Watch: Tommy Oosthuizen pumped for Mchunu fight
A lot is at stake for Tommy Oosthuizen and judging by how focused he is, Oosthuizen knows it too.
The Advertiser visited one of the most formidable duos in South African boxing in Tommy Oosthuizen and respected trainer Harold Volbrecht at their Hammer Gym on Wednesday evening, July 18.
The first thing we noticed when stepping foot in the ever impressive-looking Hammer Gym, was the intense atmosphere as mentor Volbrecht was thoroughly putting the former IBO super middleweight champion through his paces.
Oosthuizen is preparing for the unofficial bout against ABU and SA cruiserweight champion Thabiso ‘The Rock’ Mchunu scheduled to headline Golden Gloves’ ‘Call for Glory’ bill at Emperors Palace on September 1.
Mchunu is a student at Smiths Boxing Gym under the tutelage of Sean Smith. His last fight was recent and he was impressive.
He stopped Richards Bolotniks of Latvia in round six at Emperors Palace. The knockout improved his record to 19-4; 12.
An officially free man from May 16 following a brief stint behind bars, the man, fondly known as Tommy Gun, has been given an umpteenth chance to resurrect an impressive career despite numerous tainting, thanks to the pugilist’s wayward past ways.
And what a chance it is. It does not get bigger than Mchunu – who sits on top of the cruiserweight food chain. Golden Gloves boss Rodney Berman could’ve easily made Volbrecht’s client re-work his way up, and this is why one feels that it’s Oosthuizen’s last chance. For real this time.
Since his release from prison, Oosthuizen’s camp has been asked to produce various documents to Boxing SA, the sport’s governing body, to prove that the lanky southpaw is clear from all trouble.
Should the governing body give Oosthuizen the green light to fight, then the Mchunu-Oosthuizen fight status will change to official.
Boxing SA is expected to respond in the upcoming days.
With 27 wins from 30 fights under his belt, including a single loss and two draws, Oosthuizen has never lost to a South African opponent and nor has he lost on South African soil.
His only loss came in May last year when Igor Mikhalkin defeated him for the vacant IBO light heavyweight title in Germany. That was also his last fight when he was far from his best.
His undivided focus in the ring while Volbrecht was taking him through his paces spilled over to the interview with the Advertiser, as he explained: “Mchunu is what drives me to this fight, preparing for him; so the preparation is envisioning my opponent preparing for me.
“He’s preparing for Tommy Gun, so I envision him training for me and then I up that level, and I top those boundaries – and that’s how I’m going to be the man at the end of the night.”
Oosthuizen lauded Berman, Rob McKenzie, RDG Boksburg, Steven Pieterse and Christo Tron, whom he said believed in him through trying times.
The list also included his parents Charles and Linda, and his brother, whose name is also Charles. He also apologised for not mentioning everyone else as the list is endless.
His body language was that of a man who knows his abilities and who’s secretly confident, especially with the boxing fraternity and media widely labelling him as the underdog in this one.
Oosthuizen is outspoken, as his past press conferences would attest, but this version of him, the one he brought to the interview, chose a different approach – a cards-close-to-chest approach.
The full video interview can be viewed on our site at boksburgadvertiser.co.za – @SabeloBoksburg
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