Motor muscle drives boxing

THE auto industry have always been ardent supporters of boxing from an individual perspective sponsoring fighters for fights. Now with the advent of 300 new fighters that just got their licenses in the national pro sparing events.

That means a fighter who builds a career will require four fights a year. Altogether 1 200 fights a year is a huge number just for the debutant fighters so, Box Office trainer and former well known boxer, Anton Gilmore has garnered the power houses of the motor industry’s support in the South and with this backing endeavours to put on four events a year to expose the talent and get momentum going for the boxing industry.

The first of these ‘motorvated’ events is on May 27 at the perfect venue for the debutants being Turfontein Race Course. Nine exciting bouts will take place in the four round categories exposing the new fighters and to top each of these events will be a Gauteng title.

This event sees Rofhiwe Maemu take on Tumelo Pedi from Alan Toweel’s gym. This featherweight scrap over ten rounds will shine a light on the provincial titles once again and rekindle the esteem they carried once upon a time when they were ‘Transvaal’ titles. Maemu has fought the likes of Adam de Moor, Paul Kamanga and Alan Bouwer while Pedi has been very active under the guidance of AlanToweel fighting almost every month for the last year. Both fought on the event together last year and now will face off for the vacant title.

The undercard is going to be a long night at the office for Gilmore who has eight of the nine fresh professionals on the card and man that doesn’t want to linger in the shadow of his brother is Clement Kamanga with a great amateur record is up against a silver championship fighter from Stephens Gym called Sipho Xaba. A fair test for the young fighters to birth their careers.

Boxers that have been built through local events such as Siya Mabena, Arthur Hall, Dario Familiar and Brandon Naude will showcase on Wednesday the 27th. Dougie Holmes is well matched against SiyaMabena and Grant Habib has put effort into Holmes to get him ready for the professional market. Siya was born at Box Office and is under shared guidance with Sebastian Rothman where he studies and trains in Pretoria.

Jade Karam of the famous Karam family will hold the names honour on the night after switching from provincial rugby to pro boxing and hopes to show his friends and family his abilities. Luvo Ntlebi andBheki Muhlangu who joined Gilmore on from South Hills and Booysens after they turned professional have their baptism into professional greatness. These are really dedicated boxers and each have a story of overcoming the odds in life.

The support for these events come via table sales to the motor industry and general public and so 30 tables will support this events purses and Gareth Masters CEO of Gilmore-Masters Promotions implores the southerners to get behind this revolutionary event. Tables are R5 000 for the sponsors and R4 000 per ten for general public. Enquiries can be forwarded to Anton at boxofficegym@gmail.com