Time to walk the walk: Mchunu, Tommy Gun have final say

The common denominator here is that both pugilists are highly confident in their ability and fitness, It is a 12 rounder after all, just how true their words are will be uncovered.

Clash of titans: Thomas 'Tommy Gun' Oosthuizen and ABU cruiserweight champion Thabiso 'The Rock' Mchunu. Photo: Nick Lourens.

ABU cruiserweight champion Thabiso Mchunu will defend his gong against the returning Tommy Gun at Golden Gloves’ Call for Glory event at Emperors Palace on Saturday (September 1).

Following an interesting build-up marked by public and private press conferences, traditional face-offs between the contenders and even predictions from fellow boxers, the two-star pugilists are ready to do their talking in the ring.

But before it goes down at the squared circle at the Palace, Oosthuizen and Mchunu had final thoughts.

Oosthuizen, the more outspoken of the two, said: “I’m feeling like I want the fight to happen. It’s been a long journey since returning in May (from incarceration) and I’ve been training hard.

“I’m fit, I’m 10,” he added, when asked to rate his level of fitness on a scale of 10.

“It’s an important fight for me and I want to prove it to my fans, Golden Gloves and all my supporters.”

Thabiso Mchunu

When the Advertiser asked the champion his state of mind as the date is nearing, he commented: “It feels good; I’ve been in a bigger fight but I’m a local fan, and locally, this is a big challenge. But to me, this is just another fight and that’s how I’m going to approach and treat it.

“It’s two unorthodox fighters facing each other so there’s going to be a lot to learn. Who wins is going to depend on who’s the fitter and smarter fighter is and he is not fitter than me and I think my boxing IQ is better than his.

“It’s going to be a highly competitive fight, but I’m going to make it easy because my boxing IQ is higher.”