Icon puts his money on import
YOUNG welterweight boxing import Paul Kamanga will have too many guns for Johannesburg's Adam de Moor in a fight bill titled "Malice in the Palace" tonight, says South African great Brian Mitchell, who is involved in promoting the dine-and-fight event.
"This will be a nice clash between two talented fighters, but I believe that Paul will emerge victorious," said Mitchell, who manages the blossoming career of Kamanga.
The 20-year-old from the Democratic Republic of Congo is trained at the Box Office gym in Johannesburg by former professional boxer Anton "Irish Terrier" Gilmore.
De Moor, 25, is under trainer Colin "Nomakanjani" Nathan, Vusi Mtolo and Springkaan Khongoane.
The eagerly awaited international contest at Emperors Palace in Gauteng between Kamanga and De Moor will be contested over 10 rounds in the welterweight division.
It will form part of a six-fight card staged by Golden Gloves Promotions.
Englishman Martin Murray will also make his debut under promoter Rodney Berman's company. Murray will face Ghana's Ishmael Tetteh over 10 rounds in the middleweight division.
Looking at the non-title bout between Kamanga and De Moor, both fighters have seven short-route wins. While De Moor has tasted one defeat against 10 wins, Kamanga is undefeated after 10 contests.
They have met twice in the amateur ranks, with each fighter winning a fight.
While De Moor boasts a fifth-round stoppage over Luyanda Jako, a former Gauteng lightweight champion, Kamanga ended the distinguished career of Irvin "Pretty Boy" Buhlalu last month.
Kamanga knocked the former All Africa and SA lightweight champion out in the first round, and Buhlalu retired after that.
Jako will face Grant "Fireball" Fourie in the junior welterweight division over six rounds. Trainer Themba Zulu has made it clear that the fight tonight is do or die for Jako. That is based on Jako's health. He is asthmatic and cannot breathe properly with the mouthpiece in, so he has to spit it out.
That is against the rules. If a boxer spits his mouthpiece deliberately, he gets warned and if he continues doing so, he then gets docked a point.
In his fight against Mzolisi Yoyo for both the SA and WBF Intercontinental junior welterweight belts on June 16 last year, Jako retired on his stool going for the third round after he had complained of chest pains.
He is good, but his condition has turned him into being a stepping stone to average boxers. He has lost eight of 18 fights.
Fourie has his issues, too. He has never been the same boxer since he was stopped in 10 rounds by Jason Bedeman for the IBO All-Africa lightweight title on September 12 2009. Fourie has won only two of his seven fights since that clash.
In total Fourie has suffered six losses in 20 contests. He is trained by his father, Louise Fourie, and Manny Fernandes.
Fernandes's charge, Vhonani "Terminator" Netshidamboni, makes a comeback against Page Tshesane in the super middleweight division.
Netshidamboni last fought on November 26 last year when he was poleaxed in two rounds by national light heavyweight champion Johnny "Hurricane" Muller.
Regarding the main feature, Mitchell is hoping for an impressive debut by Murray.
Based on current form the Englishman is a hot favourite, having scored his 27th win in a fight against Sergey Khomitsky over eight rounds on December 4. - Bongani Magasela
