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big bulls lock horns

HEAVY HITTERS: Promoter Dingaan Thobela is flanked by Bully Muravha, left, and Basil Ray during a media briefing before their fight at Emperors Palace in Ekurhuleni on July 29. Photo. Antonio Muchave. 03/07/08. © Sowetan.
HEAVY HITTERS: Promoter Dingaan Thobela is flanked by Bully Muravha, left, and Basil Ray during a media briefing before their fight at Emperors Palace in Ekurhuleni on July 29. Photo. Antonio Muchave. 03/07/08. © Sowetan.

Bongani Magasela

Bongani Magasela

Faint-hearted fight fans must stay away from the Theatre of Marcellus at Emperors Palace on Tuesday, July 29 because of the potential brutality between two bulls, Bully "Bulldozer" Muravha and Basil "No Apologies" Ray.

They will lock horns for the right to challenge Osborne Machimana for the South African heavyweight belt.

Their clash will be promoted by Dingaan Thobela-Knockout Boxing Promotions of Dingaan "Rose of Soweto" Thobela, Jeff Ellis and Allan Young.

The box-and-dine tournament will be bankrolled by Barloworld, which also sponsors the Soweto Blind School.

Fifty-two tables, each with 10 seats, will sell at R3 500 each.

Ellis and Thobela announced on Wednesday that the proceeds will be donated to the Hole in the Wall Children's home that caters for unwanted babies.

"I listen with both ears when you talk about charity," said Barloworld general manager Rudolph Briedenhann.

Ray works for this giant company that manufactures forklifts.

His colleague, Victor Temlett, will make his professional debut in one of the undercards.

Muravha, 19, from Venda, who is trained by George Khosi in Gauteng, fired a salvo at Ray.

"I am bulldozer, a tractor and I am gonna walk over him in just four rounds," he said, grinding his teeth and clenching his fists in a sign of determination.

"That will be a stern warning to Osborne that I am coming for him.

"The true fighter in me will come out now that I am able to focus on my career since Lorson, a clothing company, sponsors me."

His boldness annoyed Ray and this always calm, cool and collected gentleman lost his composure.

"I will knock Bull clean out and probably end his career," he warned, with a mean look in his eyes.

Ray, 34, boasts two knockout wins from four fights.

This fighter, who comes from the south of Johannesburg but now lives in Pretoria, is trained by Colin Nathan.

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