The second leg of the 4@War tournament takes place on September 2 at Emperors Palace in conjunction with Golden Gloves Promotions, pending approval from Boxing South Africa (BSA).
In the final of the 4@War junior middleweight tournament, Boyd Allen will defend his WBA Pan African junior middleweight title against Brandon Thysse over 12 rounds.
Allen won the previous fight and the finals should be a war of note.
In the semi-finals of the tournament, Thysse fought a war with Roarke Knapp in a fight that stole the show.
Thysse showed that he is fast becoming a fighter of note and the final say will be on fight night.
“I think that was Brandon’s coming out performance,” said trainer Damien Durandt.
Boyd Allen defends his WBA Pan African junior middleweight title against Brandon Thysse over 12 rounds. Allen won his semi-fianls bout against Tristan Truter. Photo: Annette van Schalkwyk.
“In the beginning of the tournament, everyone wrote him off and now many people are picking him to win it. “The key is not to get complacent and stay focused. Their previous fight was very close and as long as he maintains his form, he will win it.”
Allen, a former MMA fighter, is deceptive in the ring, but has taken some powerful punches and under trainer, Peter Smith, made a vast improvement.
“I thought Boyd did extremely well. I said to him that he will win by knockout, which he didn’t believe at first. “He is a very good listener, very teachable fighter,” said trainer Peter Smith.
Smith is not taking their opponent lightly though. “Thysse’s confidence has shifted to another level and a confident fighter is a dangerous fighter. It is a tough one, but we have the right preparation and I believe we are going to win.”
The main supporting bout will see Jabulani Makhense in the welterweight division, where he will be contesting the vacant WBA Pan African title over 10 rounds against Eric Kapia from the DRC.
Trainer Sebastiaan Rothman said, “People say that he only does enough to win and we want to change that. “Obviously, we are not going to turn the fight into a slugfest, that would be stupid, but we are working on him sitting down on his punches. I want him to hit his opponent with five, six punches at a time and try and get him out of there.”
That may be easier said than done. Makhense is undefeated in his nine pro outings and a 22-3-2 record, but Kapia is the more experienced.
–bedfordviewedenvalenews.co.za
