PROMOTER Rodney Berman is giving former IBO junior featherweight champion Thabo "Super Eagle" Sonjica a chance to rise from the ashes of his boxing career.

Sonjica forfeited his world title on the scales on Friday night after being 2kg over the limit at the official weigh-in for his defence against Roli Gasca.

He will meet Malcolm "The Stone" Klassen in a non-title 10-rounder at Emperors Palace on September 29.

"This is a very good local shoot-out. Sonjica is a good fighter but I was grossly disturbed when he did not make the weight last weekend. He showed lack of dedication," said Berman

"That was a major step up for him fighting at Emperors Palace for the first time in front of a much bigger crowd. He was supposed to impress, but what happened there really does not augur well for him with Golden Gloves."

"But, having said that, I told his manager Mzimasi Mnguni that I am still willing to give his boy another chance.

"Hence the fight with Malcolm, who is a former two-time IBF junior lightweight champion. The winner will go to greater heights."

This match could elicit good memories of the "Fire and Fire" clash between Phillip "Time Bomb" Ndou and Cassius "Hitman" Baloyi, which took place in Brakpan in 2001.

Sonjica outpointed Gasca from the Philippines last weekend but was not crowned because he failed to make the required weight limit.

Berman was livid and threatened not to feature Sonjica in any of his future tournaments.