RESPECTED boxing trainer Alex Mchunu says the boxing match between his son Thabiso and Danie "Tshwane Tornado" Venter on Saturday night has the potential to be an enthralling bout.
It will top the Golden Gloves bill at Emperors Palace. The 12-rounder will decide the Super 8 Last Man Standing cruiserweight champion who will pocket R300000 and the ABU belt.
"These are two well- schooled fighters whom I expect to be super-fit for the battle this time round," said Alex yesterday.
In their first fight on June 14 last year in the heavyweight division, Venter was 10kg heavier than "The Rock".
The ballooning Venter, who lost on points over eight rounds, seemed to have lost interest in boxing and their fight was uninspiring. Alex was in Thabiso's corner.
But Venter's first-round stoppage of Flo Simba on September 24 seemed to give him a new lease of life.
He has since chalked up three consecutive wins - the last being a stunning fourth-round stoppage of Zack Mwekassa on September 22.
Thabiso, who was becoming complacent after winning his first nine fights, suffered a sixth-round stoppage against Mwekassa on the same evening that Venter stopped Simba.
But Thabiso has also made up for that defeat. The KwaZulu-Natal boxer, whose skills are honed by Sean Smith in Gauteng, stopped Simba twice in the first round of their two meetings on June 16 and September 22.
"They are like school children that have gone through all the grades," said Mchunu.
Venter represented South Africa at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
"Danie is clever and is also a very good boxer who throws punches perfectly. If he uses his reach and height to his advantage, then he will beat Thabiso," warned Alex.
But at the same time, Alex, who guided his son to the SA and WBA Pan African cruiserweight titles before they parted ways two years ago, cautioned that if the shorter Thabiso used his strength, then the fight would not go the scheduled distance.
Saturday night's bill also features the IBO super middleweight title fight between champion Thomas Oosthuizen and Fulgencia Zuniga; the IBO All Africa light heavyweight title fight between titlist Ryno Liebenberg and Donald Kampamba; and the vacant IBO junior bantamweight title fight between Gideon Buthelezi and Edrin Dapudong.
Will 'Rock' roll over Venter?
RESPECTED boxing trainer Alex Mchunu says the boxing match between his son Thabiso and Danie "Tshwane Tornado" Venter on Saturday night has the potential to be an enthralling bout.
It will top the Golden Gloves bill at Emperors Palace. The 12-rounder will decide the Super 8 Last Man Standing cruiserweight champion who will pocket R300000 and the ABU belt.
"These are two well- schooled fighters whom I expect to be super-fit for the battle this time round," said Alex yesterday.
In their first fight on June 14 last year in the heavyweight division, Venter was 10kg heavier than "The Rock".
The ballooning Venter, who lost on points over eight rounds, seemed to have lost interest in boxing and their fight was uninspiring. Alex was in Thabiso's corner.
But Venter's first-round stoppage of Flo Simba on September 24 seemed to give him a new lease of life.
He has since chalked up three consecutive wins - the last being a stunning fourth-round stoppage of Zack Mwekassa on September 22.
Thabiso, who was becoming complacent after winning his first nine fights, suffered a sixth-round stoppage against Mwekassa on the same evening that Venter stopped Simba.
But Thabiso has also made up for that defeat. The KwaZulu-Natal boxer, whose skills are honed by Sean Smith in Gauteng, stopped Simba twice in the first round of their two meetings on June 16 and September 22.
"They are like school children that have gone through all the grades," said Mchunu.
Venter represented South Africa at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
"Danie is clever and is also a very good boxer who throws punches perfectly. If he uses his reach and height to his advantage, then he will beat Thabiso," warned Alex.
But at the same time, Alex, who guided his son to the SA and WBA Pan African cruiserweight titles before they parted ways two years ago, cautioned that if the shorter Thabiso used his strength, then the fight would not go the scheduled distance.
Saturday night's bill also features the IBO super middleweight title fight between champion Thomas Oosthuizen and Fulgencia Zuniga; the IBO All Africa light heavyweight title fight between titlist Ryno Liebenberg and Donald Kampamba; and the vacant IBO junior bantamweight title fight between Gideon Buthelezi and Edrin Dapudong.
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