WeeklySA_AdminMAJOR BOXING FIGHTS: The Malajika/Chauke IBO showdown likened to Phillip Ndou and Cassius Baloyi for the WBU junior lightweight belt 23 years ago
By Sports Reporter
It’s a busy start to the new year, and promoter Rodney Berman would want it no other way.
He’s already lined up several major fights to start 2025, signaling renewed focus on many of South Africa’s most important boxers.
The action starts as soon as March 1 with the much awaited IBO flyweight championship bout between Ricardo Malajika and Jackson Chauke, a showdown for the ages that is expected to light up Emperors Palace.
Win or lose, Malajika will then defend his IBO super flyweight belt against Elton Dharry in Guyana on May 3. The New York-based Dharry is rated number four by the WBA and is vastly more experienced, with 36 bouts to his credit.
Malajika’s belt won’t be on the line when he fights Chauke, although local pride will be as he seeks to amplify his status as one of the best in the world.
Meanwhile, local favourite Roarke Knapp will venture overseas to take on unbeaten Bakare Samake in France for the WBC Silver belt at junior middleweight on April 18.
The usual risk applies – fighting in an opponent’s backyard without home support – but Berman is among those who believes in Knapp’s ability. Moreover, he has long subscribed to the belief that an out-of-town robbery, always a possibility, can be as good as a win given that home cooking is loathed in boxing.
Happily, Berman has retained the television rights for both Malajika and Knapp’s fights, ensuring that local fans will get to enjoy the live action on SuperSport.
Keeping up the momentum, Berman will be partnering with Matt Leisching, the fast-rising trainer, for an event in Cape Town in April. It will include the debut of Golden Gloves’ first Muslim women’s fighter in Saarah Karriem, plus outings for Cape Town’s own Dylan Prosser and Dean Promnick, both unbeaten and among the province’s best prospects.
Separately, enquiries have been made to WBC strawweight champion Melvin Jerusalem regarding a title defence against Siya Kuse, whose stocks shot up after his outstanding recent win against Beaven Sibanda.
Jerusalem’s camp have provisionally agreed to the fight provided he gets through his next title defence.
Sibanda, too, is likely to have a big fight with negotiations ongoing for the WBC Silver belt.
Berman is also planning a championship fight for Shervantaigh Koopman, the explosive junior middleweight who keeps producing the goods. The preferred path is the IBO belt, held by Angolan-born Portuguese Uisma Lima.
Berman, as ever, has been in touch.
Golden Gloves will be hosting its first event of 2025 with a top show, plus two vibrant new sponsors that herald a fresh new direction.
iME, a cutting-edge digital engagement platform spearheaded by dynamic Nivi Grogor, has come on board together with SuperSportBet, which is fast becoming the destination of choice for punters.
March 1 has been set for “Palace Pandemonium and the Rising Titans” at Emperors Palace and Berman said he likens it to the memorable clash between Phillip Ndou and Cassius Baloyi for the WBU junior lightweight belt 23 years ago, a fight the public had long clamoured for.
Malajika has come into his own in recent years, reeling off six successive victories since 2022, and enjoys reckoning as one of South Africa’s most accomplished fighters.
Chauke is no mug himself, having established a formidable reputation on the tough local circuit. A professional since 2008, he has more than paid his dues and deservedly won the IBO belt in January, fighting on the road by travelling to England and winning.
It’s too early for fight odds to be posted, but there’s likely to be little in it when the bookmakers determine the odds. Malajika has youth on his side; Chauke (39) has the virtue of experience.
If Malajika wins, he will have 10 days to decide which of the two titles he wants to keep, rendering the other belt vacant.
However, if Chauke wins, it counts as a regulation title defence as Malajika’s crown is not being contested.
Additionally, Golden Gloves has delivered an outstanding undercard fight in the shape of resurgent Brandon Thysse against Charles “SuperShine” Shinima (18-1) of Namibia.
The “Rising Titans” come in the form of Tuvia Wewege, Michael Head, Bonginkosi Nhlapho and Bryan Thysse who will contest a four-man light heavyweight tournament.
Apart from the exposure on television and the backing of Golden Gloves, the fighters stand to earn excellent purses: R60 000 for each of the four with the overall winner pocketing an extra R125 000 and the runner-up taking home another R75 000.
The winner therefore stands to earn R185 000 and with it the chance to claim bragging rights.
