Unbeaten ‘Tommy Gun’ to fire first shots in US
THE AMERICAN DREAM: Thomas 'Tommy Gun' Oosthuizen will make his debut in the United States in October on the undercard of a Lou DiBella-promoted event. THE AMERICAN DREAM: Thomas 'Tommy Gun' Oosthuizen will make his debut in the United States in October on the undercard of a Lou DiBella-promoted event.
IBO super middleweight champion Thomas “Tommy Gun” Oosthuizen may have scraped through with a close points verdict over veteran William Gare in the eyes of many ring-siders a fortnight ago, but that has not stopped the young champion from aiming high in his next bout.
According to Oosthuizen’s manager, Brian Mitchell, his charge will be involved in the biggest fight of his career when he features in a Lou DiBella-promoted event headlined by world middleweight champion Sergio Martinez in the US in October.
Mitchell clinched the deal during his trip to New York where he attended the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) inductions in Canastota last weekend.
The inductions drew the biggest attendance in their history and inductees were former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, world renowned referee Joe Cortez, former world junior welterweight king Kostya Tszyu, Mexican legend Julio Cesar Chavez, Mexican promoter Ignacio Beristain and actor Sylvester Stallone of the Rocky movies fame.
Mitchell, whose own induction took place in 2009, was a guest of honour together with his compatriot and international referee Stan Christodoulou – who was voted in five years earlier.
Mitchell and Christo-doulou are the only local boxing personalities to be inducted into the IBHOF and together with Ghana’s Azumah Nelson they are the only trio from the entire African continent to receive the honour.
While he was in New York Mitchell held a meeting with DiBella to discuss the future of local fighters including Oosthuizen and the recently vanqui-shed Flo Simba to feature in the guttural-voiced American’s shows.
DiBella invited Mitchell to his press conference where he announced two of his development shows – which mostly featured Puerto Rican fighters last weekend, and which were televised by Showtime Boxing (ShowBox) and ESPN as part of the Puerto Rican Day Parade festivities.
“It was an honour for me to be invited by Lou to discuss the future of our fighters,” Mitchell said.
No opponent has been confirmed for Oosthuizen yet, but Mitchell said it would be “someone solid” as they look to consolidate the 23-year-old unbeaten champion’s lofty ranking by the respected Ring Magazine.
The southpaw champion, unbeaten in 16 fights with a draw and 11 stoppages, occupies the 10th spot in the Ring ratings and that is a major feat in a talented division such as the super middleweights.
Simba, who was upset by veteran Francois “White Buffalo” Botha a fortnight ago, would have been part of the deal, but according to Mitchell, DiBella will be keeping a close eye on him in his September 24 bout against an opponent yet to be announced.
“Simba’s defeat by Botha set him back a bit, but Lou has promised to use him if he wins on September 24,” Mitchell added.