AFTER winning the SA title, Sipho "Tsunami" Taliwe could add the WBC International junior lightweight belt to his cabinet.
So motivated is Taliwe by his national success that he accepted an 11th-hour offer to oppose Vin Vin Rufino at Emperors Palace on Saturday.
Taliwe, who was preparing for a voluntary defence, replaced Malcolm Klassen, whose contractual dispute with promoter Branco Milenkovic ruled him out of this WBC International title fight that will be staged by promoter Rodney Berman.
Taliwe from Aliwal North, whose skills are honed in Westbury, Johannesburg, by trainers Benny Pailman, Cliff Martins and Peter Faver, was paraded at the pre-fight medical yesterday.
Taliwe will forfeit the right to choose an opponent for his fourth defence of the SA title, after his ultimatum to defend expired on October 25. He made a mandatory defence against Godfrey Nzimande on July 25.
According to Boxing South Africa's title defence rule, Taliwe was entitled to choose an opponent within 90 days of his defeat of Nzimande. Because he failed to do so, Taliwe forfeited that right and will be forced into a mandatory defence.
Taliwe has 10 KOs from 11 wins against two losses and a draw while Rufino has 13 KOs from 29 wins, 11 defeats and three draws.
Meanwhile, no insults were traded between IBO super middleweight champion Isaac "Golden Boy" Chilemba and challenger Thomas "Tommy Gun" Oosthuizen when they met face to face at the pre-fight medical at Emperors Palace.
Their eagerly awaited clash will top Berman's bill, which will feature rising stars like Jason Bedeman, Flo Simba and Bongani Dlamini in other fights.
The fighters were all given a clean bill of health yesterday.
The tournament will be televised live on SuperSport from 8pm.
Boxing - Taliwe a late substitute
AFTER winning the SA title, Sipho "Tsunami" Taliwe could add the WBC International junior lightweight belt to his cabinet.
So motivated is Taliwe by his national success that he accepted an 11th-hour offer to oppose Vin Vin Rufino at Emperors Palace on Saturday.
Taliwe, who was preparing for a voluntary defence, replaced Malcolm Klassen, whose contractual dispute with promoter Branco Milenkovic ruled him out of this WBC International title fight that will be staged by promoter Rodney Berman.
Taliwe from Aliwal North, whose skills are honed in Westbury, Johannesburg, by trainers Benny Pailman, Cliff Martins and Peter Faver, was paraded at the pre-fight medical yesterday.
Taliwe will forfeit the right to choose an opponent for his fourth defence of the SA title, after his ultimatum to defend expired on October 25. He made a mandatory defence against Godfrey Nzimande on July 25.
According to Boxing South Africa's title defence rule, Taliwe was entitled to choose an opponent within 90 days of his defeat of Nzimande. Because he failed to do so, Taliwe forfeited that right and will be forced into a mandatory defence.
Taliwe has 10 KOs from 11 wins against two losses and a draw while Rufino has 13 KOs from 29 wins, 11 defeats and three draws.
Meanwhile, no insults were traded between IBO super middleweight champion Isaac "Golden Boy" Chilemba and challenger Thomas "Tommy Gun" Oosthuizen when they met face to face at the pre-fight medical at Emperors Palace.
Their eagerly awaited clash will top Berman's bill, which will feature rising stars like Jason Bedeman, Flo Simba and Bongani Dlamini in other fights.
The fighters were all given a clean bill of health yesterday.
The tournament will be televised live on SuperSport from 8pm.
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