As boxing announcements go, Rodney Berman’s offering on Thursday afternoon registered red on the Richter scale.
“I’m taking Tommy Oosthuizen back,” said the Golden Gloves CEO, who just a few months ago showed the IBO super-middleweight champion the door on account of his hard-living lifestyle.
The turning point for Berman came earlier in the week when Oosthuizen met with him – after a six-week stint in rehabilitation.
“He looks fantastic,” enthused Berman. “He cleaned himself up on his own, demonstrating a willingness to confront his demons. The truth is I’m proud of him. He’s admitted to his failings and addressed them in a meaningful way.
“Hopefully he understands what is at stake and realises what will happen if he carries on. He did what he had to do and his future is in his hands. It was a bold step and he won’t want to jeopardise his future again. He will be every opportunity to get back to where he needs to be.”
Oosthuizen (22-0-2, 13 KOs) hasn’t fought since a below-par showing against Ezequiel Maderna in November. He was meant to contest a major bout on HBO in Canada in January, but was so badly out of shape that Berman kicked him out.
Berman says Oosthuizen will now head to the gym under Harold Volbrecht’s watch and be geared towards a comeback fight on a major bill at Emperors Palace in August.
Berman has previously made noises about Oosthuizen moving up to light-heavyweight, particularly as the fighter has a tough time cutting weight for the super-middles. He would presumably have to relinquish his IBO belt, but there are plenty of options in the heavier division with a slew of top fights to be made.
He may even come into the reckoning for the Super Six, although Berman said such thoughts were premature with Oosthuizen getting ring sharp now number one on his list of priorities.
It has been made clear to Oosthuizen that he’s been offered a shot at redemption on a silver platter, but the trade-off is unequivocal: mess up again and the parting will be final.
