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
