In a double header at Emperors Palace, near Kempton Park, on Saturday there will be two South African titles on the line, with Cowin Ray meeting Frank Rodrigues for the vacant South African super middleweight title and, in the main event, Simon Dlada defending his South African junior middleweight title against Shervantaigh Koopman.
The tournament will be televised live on SuperSport Variety 4 from 5pm to 9pm CAT (SA, GMT+2).
The 26-year-old Dlada (6-1; 5) of Soweto won the vacant South African junior middleweight title on 16 December 2019 with a second-round technical knockout win over Junior Makondo (6-3).
Koopman, 27, from Pretoria, who has been most impressive since making his pro debut on 31 May 2018 with a second-round technical knockout win over Buthelezi Phelani, is listed at No 3 on the latest Boxing SA ratings.
The champion is hoping to get his career back on track after being smashed to defeat in 118 seconds of the first round by Roarke Knapp (10-1-1) in his most recent fight on 19 December last year, in a clash for the vacant IBO World Youth junior middleweight title.
The unbeaten Koopman (7-0; 5), with a knockout ratio of 71,43 per cent, could win the title with a late-round stoppage.
RAY AND RODRIGUES MEET FOR VACANT SA TITLE
In an interesting matchup, Frank Rodrigues, who is rated at No 1, meets the No 3-rated Cowin Ray in a clash for the vacant South African super middleweight title, which was relinquished by Ryno Liebenberg.
Rodrigues (7-3; 4) has a rather in-and-out record with only two wins in his last five fights.
He will be having his second crack at trying to win a South African title after he was stopped in the 11th round by Nicholas Radley in a challenge for the South African light heavyweight title on 16 June 2019 in Cape Town.
After the loss to Radley he lost on an eight-round split decision against Alex Kabangu and in his most recent fight he won on points over six rounds against Stanis Apanu (4-2).
Cowin Ray (6-0; 4), who is listed at No 3 in current ratings, made his pro debut on 17 March 2016, winning three of his first five fights inside the distance, but was inactive for just over two years, before he returned to action on 10 October last year with second-round knockout win over Karabo Mokupi (2-3).
All the records are taken from Boxrec.
UNDERCARD
Heavyweight- 6 rounds-Josh Pretorius v Wilhelm Nebe; Junior bantamweight- 8 rounds- Khayalethu Mbedie v Ricardo Malijika; Junior welterweight- 4 rounds Xolani Selimane v Nthethelelo Nkosi; Middleweight- 4 rounds- Thando Mali v Phikelani Terence Khumalo; Catchweight (54.50kg) – 4 rounds: Juan Croukamp v Jono Grose.
–supersport.com
