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Boxing is an interesting and
deceptive sport at times.
After watching Mayweather v
Maidana, I found the post fight
comments of "Money Man"
interesting.
He said that he could easily
have outboxed Maidana which
would have made for a boring
fight, but rather chose to
engage with Maidana to make the
fight entertaining for the fans,
even though it resulted in a
close majority decision in his
favor.
It is styles that make fights
and the best in the world can
sometimes be involved in boring
encounters while a four-round
novice fight with blood and guts
might be the fight of the night.
With this in mind, allow me to
revisit a phone call I received
from a South African fan who
questioned the sanity of
matching our world cruiserweight
champion Danie Venter with the
vicious punching knockout
specialist from Colombia
Santander Silgado, 25-1 with 20
knockouts.
Why would the promoters put
their world champion in such a
position against a dangerous
opponent? I guess the answers
are quite simple. Danie Venter
is the world champion and needs
to defend against the best in
the business.
Danie Venter is a very skillful
fighter who is best against a
come forward fighter. Danie
Venter is deceptively better
than most and needs a tough
challenge to bring out the best
in him. Whatever the answer or
answers are, this is a quality,
tough and excellent matchup and
kudos go to Real Steel
Promotions for bringing out the
best for their champion.
Back to styles and the fight
everyone in South Africa is
talking about is the Daniel
Bruwer v Kevin Lerena WBF
Intercontinental title on the
same night. I have suggested to
the promoters that they have
security at the weigh-in, just
in case the two warriors decide
to start their bout 24 hours
earlier.
It's going to be a war of epic
proportions, and blood will be
spilt on the night, of that
there is no doubt. Unbeaten
Lerena vs experienced Bruwer.
Neither fighter prepared to take
a step backwards.
So at the end of the day, great
matchmaking makes for great
fights. I cannot for the sake of
me predict a winner of either of
these fights - that's how close
they are. The WBF on the night
is extremely proud not to be
able to pick any winners, and
that's the way all WBF title
fights should be. Well matched
and extremely entertaining for
the public, and of course
quality fights.
It will not always be the case,
but we will endeavor to make WBF
fights as entertaining as
possible, without ever
compromising on the high quality
we expect from both combatants.
I am delighted that my Vice
President Jean-Marcel Nartz, our
Honorary President Dr Mathews
Phosa and I will be together on
that night in Tshwane, South
Africa.
Until next time, keep boxing.
Howard Goldberg
PRESIDENT: World Boxing
Federation
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