One-time “golden boy” Oosthuizen in Super Six line-up

The WBA’s fourth-ranked Oosthuizen will be making his debut in the higher division in an attempt to resurrect his career following an inglorious, at times acrimonious, fall from grace after being hailed as South Africa’s top boxing prospect.

Completing the mix of South African and overseas fighters are the WBC’s sixth-ranked Rayno Liebenberg and Johnny Muller (South Africa),seventh-ranked Argentinian Roberto Bolonti, WBC number 12 Russian Dennis Grachev and Namibian Wilberforce Shihepo.

The winner of the tournamant, which will be staged in three stanzas over successive months and gets underway with three first-round bouts on August 9, stands to earn a net amount of R1,6-million.

“Demonstrating the quality of the event that has a nice balance between South Africans and overseas boxers,” said Berman, “is the fact that Bolonti will be challenging for the WBA title before he comes here – but irrespective of the outcome, he has commited himself to participate in the Super Six.”

Top-seeded Oosthuizen faces Shihepo; Oosthuizen meets “Russian Bear” Graechev and Muller will have his hands full against the typically rugged Argentinian, Bolonti.

The WBA generously Oosthuizen to number four contender for their light heavyweight title before he had fought in this heavier division.

Berman, who cut all ties with Oosthuizen after he failed to honour numerous commitments while fighting under the Golden Gloves Promotions banner, said the rift had been healed.

The “Super Six” tournament paves the way for what could be an eagerly-awaited clash between Oosthuizen and Liebenberg.

After Oosthuizen withdrew from a proposed fight in Canada earlier in the year because of a motor cycle accident, Berman proclaimed “we’re done with him. He’s had so many chances and blown every one. Boxing champions are meant to be role models and he has fallen short.”

At the time, Oosthuizen’s weight had ballooned to a point where he might have struggled to even to make the light heavyweight limit.

But he has since undergone a rehabilitation programme and is reunited with long-time trainer Harold Volbrecht, who says Oosthuizen has regained his zest for training and is already “in pretty good shape.

Despite his problems and indifferent form in his most recent bouts, the fighter who was nicknamed “Tommy Gun” when he made a spectacular debut as a professional boxer has yet to be beaten, with a record of 22 wins and two draws.

He also defended his IBO super middleweight title on seven occasions and was in line to challenge for even more prestigious honours in this division before the decline set in and he relinquished his title.

– Sapa