PROMOTER Rodney Berman is predicts a victory for Thomas "Tommy Gun" Oosthuizen over Cleber Alves for the IBO super middleweight youth title on September 12.

PROMOTER Rodney Berman is predicts a victory for Thomas "Tommy Gun" Oosthuizen over Cleber Alves for the IBO super middleweight youth title on September 12.

Berman, whose Golden Gloves Promotions will present this fight at Emperors Palace, said Oosthuizen, the IBO light heavyweight youth champ , will prove that he is at present one of South Africa's greatest left-handed fighters.

Oosthuizen is under the mentorship of trainer Harold "The Hammer" Volbrecht, another lefty, who ruled the local welterweight division with an iron fist from 1976 until 1990.

Volbrecht defended the South African title 19 times, and retired undefeated. He also guided Corrie Sanders and Mzukisi Sikali - both lefties - to stardom, winning the WBU and WBO heavyweight and IBO flyweight belts respectively.

"Thomas is on course to confirm Volbrecht's prediction of becoming one of South Africa's finest southpaws," Berman said.

Oosthuizen won the IBO light heavyweight youth strap via a lopsided points win over 10 rounds against Jared "The Storm" Lovett at the Palace of Dreams in July. Oosthuizen has had eight stoppages from nine wins.

"Lefties are normally counter-punchers and Oosthuizen may be one of the hardest-hitting southpaws that this country has ever produced," Berman said.

Volbrecht said Oosthuizen, 22, is the finest prospect he has trained. Volbrecht has trained a horde of fighters, including Brian Mitchell, Corrie Sanders, Lovemore Ndou, Phillip Holiday, Jan Bergman and Mzukisi Sikali.

Top boxing analyst Terry Pettifer said Oosthuizen possessed the power, courage, skill and durability to reach the highest levels though he is still a long way from reaching his peak.

This writer predicts that the barrage of bullets will be too much for 23-year-old Alves, a right-handed Brazilian from Curitiba, Parana, who has five wins (4 KOs), one defeat and a draw.