BOXING principals Rodney Berman and Branco Milenkovic yesterday showed great maturity when they responded to Boxing South Africa's approval and sanctioning committee that sanctioned their big tournaments on the same day in the same province.
The two gentlemen are not the best of friends and they were expected to turn on each other after the committee's decision but they handled the situation without resorting to mud-slinging.
This can only enhance their burgeoning reputation as shrewd businessmen.
BSA's three-man sanction committee virtually tried to kill fire with fuel by giving Berman and Milenkovic the go-ahead to stage their boxing events at Emperors Palace and Nasrec respectively on March 26.
But Solly Selebi, Peter Ngatane and Andile Sdinile explained that there was nothing inappropriate about the decision to stage the tournaments on the same day.
The trio said there were no rules or regulations that precluded them from approving more than one tournament on the same date.
Berman, the 68-year-old boxing emperor, said yesterday: "Both tournaments are good. Branco has two IBF title fights and we have three IBO and two WBC international title fights. It would have been better for the boxing public and the sport itself if they stood on their own. Whoever at BSA sanctioned them for the same date erred badly."
Milenkovic, 45, said: "These are two different kind of events. Mine features two legitimate IBF world title fights. My following is also 90percent of African boxing people."
Milenkovic won the bid to present the IBF junior featherweight championship between holder Canadian Steve Molitor and mandatory challenger Takalani Ndlovu in January.
He outpriced Bob Arum of Top Rank.
"If I don't proceed with the fight within the specified period of 90 days as demanded by the purse bid rule, the IBF will award the rights to Top Rank," explained Milenkovic who has included IBF flyweight champion Moruti Mthalane on his March 26 bill.
Berman's fighters Thomas Oosthuizen and Tshifhiwa Munyai will challenge for vacant IBO super middleweight and junior featherweights belts, while the sensational Flo Simba will fight for the same organisation's youth heavyweight title.
Isaac Chilemba will challenge for the vacant WBC light heavyweight strap, while Sipho Taliwe will defend the WBC International junior lightweight belt.
BSA error unites foes
BOXING principals Rodney Berman and Branco Milenkovic yesterday showed great maturity when they responded to Boxing South Africa's approval and sanctioning committee that sanctioned their big tournaments on the same day in the same province.
The two gentlemen are not the best of friends and they were expected to turn on each other after the committee's decision but they handled the situation without resorting to mud-slinging.
This can only enhance their burgeoning reputation as shrewd businessmen.
BSA's three-man sanction committee virtually tried to kill fire with fuel by giving Berman and Milenkovic the go-ahead to stage their boxing events at Emperors Palace and Nasrec respectively on March 26.
But Solly Selebi, Peter Ngatane and Andile Sdinile explained that there was nothing inappropriate about the decision to stage the tournaments on the same day.
The trio said there were no rules or regulations that precluded them from approving more than one tournament on the same date.
Berman, the 68-year-old boxing emperor, said yesterday: "Both tournaments are good. Branco has two IBF title fights and we have three IBO and two WBC international title fights. It would have been better for the boxing public and the sport itself if they stood on their own. Whoever at BSA sanctioned them for the same date erred badly."
Milenkovic, 45, said: "These are two different kind of events. Mine features two legitimate IBF world title fights. My following is also 90percent of African boxing people."
Milenkovic won the bid to present the IBF junior featherweight championship between holder Canadian Steve Molitor and mandatory challenger Takalani Ndlovu in January.
He outpriced Bob Arum of Top Rank.
"If I don't proceed with the fight within the specified period of 90 days as demanded by the purse bid rule, the IBF will award the rights to Top Rank," explained Milenkovic who has included IBF flyweight champion Moruti Mthalane on his March 26 bill.
Berman's fighters Thomas Oosthuizen and Tshifhiwa Munyai will challenge for vacant IBO super middleweight and junior featherweights belts, while the sensational Flo Simba will fight for the same organisation's youth heavyweight title.
Isaac Chilemba will challenge for the vacant WBC light heavyweight strap, while Sipho Taliwe will defend the WBC International junior lightweight belt.
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