Bongani Magasela
Bongani Magasela
The showdown between IBF junior lightweight champion Malcolm Klassen and Mzonke Fana next year could herald a boost in purse monies for local fighters.
A boxing match between two South Africans is worth peanuts in the eyes of promoters. They pay fighters meagre purses irrespective of their excitement, and the brutality they meet.
Rodney Berman can be excused. Boxers like Jacob Matlala, Hawk Makepula, Cassius Baloyi and Philip Ndou, who fought in Berman's tournaments, maintain they were well rewarded financially by the Golden Gloves boss.
Berman controls the blossoming career of Klassen while Fana fights exclusively under the umbrella of Branco Sports Production, led by Branco Milenkovic.
The two promoters are antagonists and it could get worse as they both try to land the fight.
Neither promoter has the automatic rights and this warrants purse bids. The highest bidder will earn the right to promote the fight. Klassen and Fana will reap the benefits.
Fana earned the right to challenge Klassen after cruising to a unanimous points win over Argentinian Roberto Arrieta at Nasrec last Friday night.
That fight, which was dubbed "Judgment Day", was officially sanctioned by the IBF as the final eliminator for the number one spot. Fana was ranked third.
Klassen won the title from Gairy St Clair at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park on November 4.
Stablemates Jeffrey Mathebula and Godfrey Nzimande both chalked up stunning stoppages in two impressive undercards last Friday.
Mathebula floored Mkuseli Kondile in round two and Nzimande dropped Oneboy Makhwelo in round five.
Earlier on Lehlohonolo Ramagole, a novice of seven fights, produced a major upset when he stopped Patrick Twala, a veteran of more than 20 fights, in two rounds.
Meanwhile in East London on Saturday night, Simphiwe Vetyeka stopped Sakhumzi Bongwana in the fourth round to register a record fifth defence of his South African bantamweight title.
Klassen, Fana to score
Bongani Magasela
Bongani Magasela
The showdown between IBF junior lightweight champion Malcolm Klassen and Mzonke Fana next year could herald a boost in purse monies for local fighters.
A boxing match between two South Africans is worth peanuts in the eyes of promoters. They pay fighters meagre purses irrespective of their excitement, and the brutality they meet.
Rodney Berman can be excused. Boxers like Jacob Matlala, Hawk Makepula, Cassius Baloyi and Philip Ndou, who fought in Berman's tournaments, maintain they were well rewarded financially by the Golden Gloves boss.
Berman controls the blossoming career of Klassen while Fana fights exclusively under the umbrella of Branco Sports Production, led by Branco Milenkovic.
The two promoters are antagonists and it could get worse as they both try to land the fight.
Neither promoter has the automatic rights and this warrants purse bids. The highest bidder will earn the right to promote the fight. Klassen and Fana will reap the benefits.
Fana earned the right to challenge Klassen after cruising to a unanimous points win over Argentinian Roberto Arrieta at Nasrec last Friday night.
That fight, which was dubbed "Judgment Day", was officially sanctioned by the IBF as the final eliminator for the number one spot. Fana was ranked third.
Klassen won the title from Gairy St Clair at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park on November 4.
Stablemates Jeffrey Mathebula and Godfrey Nzimande both chalked up stunning stoppages in two impressive undercards last Friday.
Mathebula floored Mkuseli Kondile in round two and Nzimande dropped Oneboy Makhwelo in round five.
Earlier on Lehlohonolo Ramagole, a novice of seven fights, produced a major upset when he stopped Patrick Twala, a veteran of more than 20 fights, in two rounds.
Meanwhile in East London on Saturday night, Simphiwe Vetyeka stopped Sakhumzi Bongwana in the fourth round to register a record fifth defence of his South African bantamweight title.
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