Boxing In South Africa: BSP Returns To The Carousel

Multi award-winning boxing promoters Branco Sports Productions (BSP) will be invading the popular Carousel Casino and Entertainment World just north of Pretoria on Friday, September 21.

Still riding high after the overwhelming success of the IBF Junior Lightweight World Title fight in Matlosana / Klerksdorp last week between Mzonke Fana and Javier Alvarez, the BSP office was abuzz this week with the news that they had secured a massive “Double Header” Championship at the Carousel.

Topping the bill will be former “Baby Champ” and reigning WBC international straw-weight champion Zukisani Kwayiba, who will engage the former Filipino junior flyweight champion Alex Aroy.

Also stepping between the ropes in a revival of the sport at the renowned boxing hub of the 90’s, will be the South African straw-weight champion Jonas Kgasago, himself a former “Baby Champ”, who will put his title on the line against the Capetonian Mzukisi Myeki.

Former four-time world champion and co-promoter Baby Jake Matlala, who himself fought some classic championship encounters at the Carousel during his illustrious career, couldn’t conceal his delight at the BSP-instituted revival of boxing at the popular venue. “Sun International, and more particularly, the Carousel, have been at the forefront as a choice boxing venue in our country for some 30 years and dished up some classic fights. It would be a tragedy if it faded into oblivion as a major player,” said Matlala.

Local boxing history will be made in that it will be the first time that two current champions in the very same weight division will share the same bill.
Informed pundits will be well aware that there is method in BSP supremo Branco Milenkovic’s madness. It is no secret that his consortium is building up the two champions with the ultimate goal of matching them up at some stage next year.

Kwayiba, who hails from Duncan Village in East London, is only 19 years old and still juggling his Grade 10 school studies and the training schedule associated with a blossoming professional boxing career.

He caused a major upset last year when he annexed the WBC International title from the then unbeaten Filipino Gabriel Pumar…

Kwayiba (unbeaten in 10 professional fights – 6 ko’s) commands a very healthy number five rating in the WBC and will definitely be looking at impressing his promoter ahead of November’s WBC Annual Convention in Manila, Philippines.

Aroy is more experienced than Kwayiba with a ring record of 17 fights, 12 victories – 6 ko’s— 4 losses and one no-contest. He was very unfortunate to lose his Filipino national title in February by way of a technical decision.

He is one of the plethora of talented fighters to emerge out of the famous Wakee Salud stable, who are the brains behind legends like Manny Pacquiao and he will be keen to head back to his native Philippines with the green WBC International title belt in his baggage.

National straw-weight champion Kgasago, who also originates from the “Baby Champs” production line, has suffered only one defeat in 11 professional outings and he will want to convince the BSP brains trust that he’s ready for a shot at Kwayiba with an authorative performance against Myeki, who is a stablemate of IBF kingpin Fana.

Another interesting element to spice up this particular fight is the fact that it pits top trainers Zola Koti and Nic Durandt against one another just a few weeks after teaming up in Fana’s corner for the Klerksdorp world title fight,

*** In true BSP tradition, the undercard has the potential to overshadow the main event. It features the unbeaten Van Heerden brothers, Chris and Michael, former SA, WBC International and All African champion Anthony Tshehla as well as the country’s top-ranked junior lightweight Jasper Seroka.

Tickets have been pegged back at very reasonable R50-00. The tournament will be screened live on SABC Sport’s “Blow by Blow – Uncut” from 22h00.