A WISE man once said today was tomorrow yesterday.
That will be the reminder to all six fighters who will be involved in Golden Gloves’ Top Guns bill at Emperors Palace tonight.
They all promised action the moment the referee utters the instruction to box.
Ali “Rush Hour” Funeka said: “I’m a man on a mission to win two IBO titles in the welterweight and junior welterweight divisions.
“They are both vacant, so the journey begins tonight. I am gonna make life easy for myself by ending the fight before the scheduled distance.”
His opponent Roman Balaev, who is training with WBA, IBO and WBC Interim middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin, said: “I am here for one thing – to win.”
The Top Guns are Thomas “Tommy Gun” Oosthuizen, Denis “Drago’s Son” Grachev, Funeka, Balaev, Johnny “The Hurricane” Muller and Kevin “KO” Lerena.
Oosthuizen will take on Russian Grachev for the vacant WBC International light heavyweight belt in the main bout, Funeka and Russian Balaev will fight for the vacant IBO welterweight strap while Muller and Lerena will meet in a non-title 10-rounder in the cruiserweight class.
They were all within required weight limits during the weigh in at Emperors Palace yesterday.
Oosthuizen fired the opening salvo: “I am not a lion. I am Tommy Gun. I shoot to kill.”
He was making reference to countryman Ryno “The Lion” Liebenberg, who outpointed Grachev for the WBC Silver title in Kempton Park on August 9.
The fight will be Oosthuizen’s second in that weight class, having won the IBO Youth belt against Jared Lovett in 2009.
Oosthuizen ruled the super middleweight division with an iron fist as he registered seven defences before relinquishing that belt.
“Grachev is good but I’m great,” declared the South African, who is undefeated in 24 fights.
Grachev said : “Tommy is a great fighter but I will break him.”
Muller warned Lerena: “He thinks he can punch. I am going to stop him.”
Lerena reminded Muller that the heavyweight boxers he beat were out of shape. He said: “The moment I land my shots he is going to feel that he has been hit.”
Thabang “Pretty Boy” Ramagole will host Mbulelo Nxazonke from East London over four rounds. The tournament will be televised live by SuperSport 7 from 7.30pm.
Tough talk from Top Gun fighters
That will be the reminder to all six fighters who will be involved in Golden Gloves’ Top Guns bill at Emperors Palace tonight.
They all promised action the moment the referee utters the instruction to box.
Ali “Rush Hour” Funeka said: “I’m a man on a mission to win two IBO titles in the welterweight and junior welterweight divisions.
“They are both vacant, so the journey begins tonight. I am gonna make life easy for myself by ending the fight before the scheduled distance.”
His opponent Roman Balaev, who is training with WBA, IBO and WBC Interim middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin, said: “I am here for one thing – to win.”
The Top Guns are Thomas “Tommy Gun” Oosthuizen, Denis “Drago’s Son” Grachev, Funeka, Balaev, Johnny “The Hurricane” Muller and Kevin “KO” Lerena.
Oosthuizen will take on Russian Grachev for the vacant WBC International light heavyweight belt in the main bout, Funeka and Russian Balaev will fight for the vacant IBO welterweight strap while Muller and Lerena will meet in a non-title 10-rounder in the cruiserweight class.
They were all within required weight limits during the weigh in at Emperors Palace yesterday.
Oosthuizen fired the opening salvo: “I am not a lion. I am Tommy Gun. I shoot to kill.”
He was making reference to countryman Ryno “The Lion” Liebenberg, who outpointed Grachev for the WBC Silver title in Kempton Park on August 9.
The fight will be Oosthuizen’s second in that weight class, having won the IBO Youth belt against Jared Lovett in 2009.
Oosthuizen ruled the super middleweight division with an iron fist as he registered seven defences before relinquishing that belt.
“Grachev is good but I’m great,” declared the South African, who is undefeated in 24 fights.
Grachev said : “Tommy is a great fighter but I will break him.”
Muller warned Lerena: “He thinks he can punch. I am going to stop him.”
Lerena reminded Muller that the heavyweight boxers he beat were out of shape. He said: “The moment I land my shots he is going to feel that he has been hit.”
Thabang “Pretty Boy” Ramagole will host Mbulelo Nxazonke from East London over four rounds. The tournament will be televised live by SuperSport 7 from 7.30pm.
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