In the wake of his successful “Silver Salvo” event at Emperors Palace, promoter Rodney Berman is planning an intriguing light-heavyweight fight for November: Tommy Oosthuizen against Denis Grachev.
Oosthuizen has been on the outer for the past nine months, a combination of indiscipline and poor career choices impeding his progress. Private discussions have been recently held between Berman and Harold Volbrecht, Oosthuizen’s manager-trainer, with an agreement to bring the fighter back in November.
But doing so comes with a huge proviso: Oosthuizen must get his act together. Indeed, recent months have been marked by disturbing reports of bad behaviour, not to speak of his vacillating weight.
Berman has shown extraordinary patience in dealing with the problem child of SA boxing, but even by his standards of tolerance, he must be close to breaking point.
That said, the prospect of Oosthuizen against Grachev excites him. “I’ve worked with Grachev on a couple of fights. He’s an absolute pro, a real warrior, as we saw against Ryno Liebenberg the other night. He will come hard at Tommy and be in his face. For me, it’s a pick ’em fight that could go either way. Tommy could easily lose if he doesn’t prepare properly. It is up to him to get into shape.”
Grachev lost fair and square, but Berman was perturbed by the scorecard of Nigeria’s Lateef Muiss, who had Liebenberg winning every round. He believes that Grachev won at least four rounds and deserved credit for his role in such an absorbing fight.
“He deserves to be invited back and I look forward to working with him.”
Of course, this fight builds nicely towards a potential Oosthuizen-Liebenberg superfight in 2015. Assuming both remain undefeated, the value in such a contest could become massive.
Oosthuizen’s popularity has waned in the wake of his poor behaviour and lack of action. Liebenberg, in turn, has done it all right and has overtaken Oosthuizen in the public’s mind.
Whoever is best may be decided next year. If so, expect a stampede at the ticket office.
