Boxers keep mum

GOLDEN Gloves should have enlisted the services of a poet or a praise singer to liven up the pre-fight medical at Emperors Palace on Tuesday.

Fight publicist Brian Mitchell tried to make things happen as master of ceremonies at the press briefing for Saturday's card at Emperors Palace.

But even he could not ignite much of a spark.

The most disappointing fighter was Mzonke "Rose of Khayelitsha" Fana, who is one of the highly recognised names on the bill. A former two-time IBF champion, Fana had little to say. Fana will challenge Sipho "Tsunami" Taliwe for the WBC International junior lightweight title. "Taliwe will see who's who," said Fana. Taliwe's response was "I trained for three months. I am prepared for anything. I prepared for 12 rounds, anything else will be a bonus."

At least Zack "Black Warrior" Mwekassa, Ryno "The Lion" Liebenberg and Johnny "The Hurricane" Muller had a few challenging comments, while others just said all the obvious boring stuff. Mwekassa, who always shoots from the hip, got everyone's attention by taking a verbal pop at his opponent in the Nashua Last Man Standing cruiserweight competition, Danie "Tshwane Tornado" Venter: "I've faced stiff opposition in my career and I've sparred with even tougher opposition. When Danie comes to fight, I'm gonna break him."

Liebenberg, who will fight Muller for the vacant IBO All Africa light heavyweight title, boasted: "Johnny can't take a punch. I prepared for 12 rounds but I don't think it's gonna go 12 rounds. I will knock him out."

Muller responded angrily by saying he would do anything, even if it meant killing Liebenberg, to win the fight.

Flo "Black Panther" Simba, who will meet Thabiso "The Rock" Mchunu in one of the two semifinals of Nashua cruiserweight Super 8 Last Man Standing, said: "I've got all the tools. I've done all that needs to be done. All I have left to do is win the fight." Mchunu said: "I don't have much to say but what happened will happen again." Mchunu stopped Simba in the first round in June but Simba's management negotiated successfully with Boxing SA for a rematch because they felt that referee Tony Nyangiwe stopped the fight too soon - hence Saturday's rematch.

Hekkie "Hexecutioner" Budler, who will defend his IBO strawweight title against Filipino Florante Condes, said he was prepared and ready to retain his title.