Oosthuizen overcame Liebenberg in an absorbing 12-rounder, to clinch the vacant IBO Light Heavyweight Title, to improve his professional record to 25-0-2, including 14 knockouts, while the latter dropped to 16-2.
Q Tommy, you had a convincing victory against Ryno, what was going through your mind on fight night?
A Just keeping my eyes on the game plan and making him (Liebenberg) look dumb, teaching him some boxing lessons. Basically humiliating him just like he humiliated me when he pushed me during the initial press conference, when the fight was first announced.
Q Considering how hyped the fight was, weren’t there perhaps any nerves from your side going into the fight?
A No, I was ready; I was raring to go, I was psyched. I knew I was going to be world champion.
I don’t get nervous anymore, boxing is boxing, it’s my job. I’ve been doing this for the past eight years now and if I got nervous every time I stepped inside the ring, then I’d be in the wrong career.
Q It was a vintage Tommy Gun performance compared to your previous fight against Denis Grachev; slick ring movement, quick and stinging blows and you looked in great shape after the bout – what did you change when you were preparing for this fight?
A I choose the way I want to beat somebody. I adapt to different fights.
Q You seemingly dominated the bout, did it go as you had imagined it would?
A I was a bit surprised, to be honest, I thought Ryno would put more pressure on me. If he did exert more pressure, I would’ve let go more, which would’ve landed him on the canvas. Harold (Volbrecht) said we were going to pick some punches before the fight and we picked our punches, so I’m happy.
Q Describe your feelings when you were announced as the winner?
A By that time I already knew I had won (he chuckled). Becoming world champion is every boxer’s dream. There are no words to describe the feeling. There’s no feeling like winning the world title.
Q Where would you say this victory ranks amongst your greatest wins?
I am still very far from my top performance, but I’m feeling good again, feeling flashy – it’s a good feeling. My job is back on track, which makes me happy. My job comes first. The better the opponent, the better the performance from my side. They can give me the best fighter in the world.
Q What’s next for Tommy Oosthuizen?
A Anything that’s brought to me. If God brings me to it, He’ll lead me through it.
Q There have been echoes of fighting André Ward, who’s known as one of the best pound-for-pound boxers ever. Is he the next big challenge for Tommy Gun and, if yes, does he not threaten to delay your pursuit of a big purse, given how he doesn’t like fighting in Las Vegas?
A No, it would actually speed up my Hall of Fame status; beating André Ward will just make me get to the top quicker. My best is yet to come.
Speaking to trainer Harold Volbrecht
Q Harold, a thumping victory for your trainee, your thoughts on the fight, please?
A I must give Ryno a little bit of credit, he was in perfect shape for the fight; his weight was good, he really took the fight seriously.
I knew Tommy was going to win. I also think he should’ve done a bit better, but the win was good.
Q A convincing performance by Tommy, is that the best fight you’ve ever seen from him, if not, where does it rank amongst his best?
A I think Tommy fought brilliantly against Junior Pryor (Aaron Pryor Junior). Tommy’s fought more classy fighters than Ryno. Ryno is a journeyman, he’s a hard worker, but not gifted in the technical side of boxing.
Q You did say you were not going to take anything for granted despite Tommy being tipped as the overwhelming favourite during the build-up to the fight – what was the strategy?
A Denis Grachev was training with us here in the Hammer Gym before the fight, and he told the kids who were out here watching that Tommy was going to run around in the fight. I told Tommy, and that is when he decided that he was not going to run around the ring in the Ryno fight.
Some people complained about Tommy’s showboating in the fight, but it depends on the opponent. You’re not going to showboat against a Sugar Ray Leonard or a Muhammad Ali, but in the Ryno fight it suited Tommy.
Q Who do you think would serve as a challenging opponent next?
A I think André Ward would be a good challenger for a 100 per cent focused Tommy. It would show people that Tommy can match the levels of guys like André. He’s better than the performance he gave the other night, against Ryno.
*Oosthuizen is scheduled to defend his title on June 6, at Emperors Palace. An opponent is yet to be announced.
*André Ward (28-0; 14) is an American professional boxer and current Lineal/WBA super middleweight champion. – @SabeloBoksburg
