Must-win bout for Oosthuizen
by Ron Jackson 27 January 2012, 20:18
Thomas Oosthuizen will defend his IBO super-middleweight title an Emperors Palace on March 3.
The South African will fight Serge Yannick, who was born in Cameroon but now fights out of Australia, at the venue near Kempton Park.
The bill for Rodney Berman's Golden Gloves Promotions tournament also includes a bout for the vacant IBO junior welterweight title between Kaizer Mabuza and Australian Steve Wills.
Oosthuizen, a southpaw with a record of 17-0-1, including 12 knockouts, will celebrate his 24th birthday on April 2.
But he first has to make the fourth defence of his title. The 28-year-old Yannick has a record of 14-1; 7 and is the PABA super-middleweight champion. His only defeat was in December 2009 when he was outpointed by Michael Bolling.
If Oosthuizen does well, he is likely to fight in the United States later this year under the guidance of promoter Lou Di Bella.
The 30-year-old Mabuza (23-8-3; 14) is a former SA, WBA Pan African and IBF Intercontinental junior welterweight champion.
He will have his third crack at a “world” title when faces Wills (16-0; 2) in a clash for the vacant IBO belt.
Mabuza lost to Zab Judah in a fight for the vacant IBF junior welterweight belt last year. He then moved up to welterweight but was outpointed by Chris van Heerden in bout for the IBO title.
Wills, a tall southpaw, won the WBO Asia Pacific light-welterweight title when he stopped Venance Mponji in two rounds in his most recent fight.
The two best fights of the night could be on the undercard.
Former SA junior lightweight champion Sipho Taliwe (17-2-1; 14) is scheduled to defend his WBC junior lightweight title against promising Joey Stiglingh (14-1; 8).
And Flo Simba (11-2; 10) will be hoping to get his career back on track when he meets Daniel Bruwer (23-3-1; 19), a former SA light-heavyweight champion, at a limit of 91 kg.