WeeklySA_AdminWBC ELIMINATOR: The winner will obtain the Silver title and will be an official challenger to Polish champ Rozanski
By Ali Mphaki
Its a long and hard road to a world title. But its going to be a dismal trip back home for the Ivorian-born Belgian Ryad Merhy after SA champ Kevin Lerena finishes with him in a highly anticipated World Boxing Council, WBC, Silver Bridger title bout, which will also be an eliminatory, scheduled for Emperor’sPalace this Saturday.
This is Lerena’s promise to his fans who have already set his sights to face the WBC Bridgerweight champion, the Polish Lukasz Rozanski, who was crowned on April 22 by knocking out Croatian Alen Babic in the first round.
The final press conference of this meeting was held during the week where both warriors were present, the WBC representative Dr Peter Ngatane, and prominent South African promoter Rodney Bergman. Lerena (28-2-0, 14 Ko`s) commented: “It is going to be a great fight. I’m sure I can beat Merhy. I had a great training camp and the best will come out with his hand up.”
“I’ve been a world champion seven times, but to this day, the one thing I hate is losing. I don’t like it,” said Lerena. All indications point to “a great first level show” as prominent South African promoter Rodney Bergman puts, moreover the title spectacle being the first WBC eliminatory to be held on South African soil after a long period of time. As of September 2021, Lerena is ranked as the world’s fifth best active cruiserweight by The Ring magazine,fourth by Transnational Boxing Rankings Board and eight by BoxRec.
Far from being a shrinking violent, opponent Mehry (31-1-0, 16 Ko`s), for his part, said: “This is a great opportunity for me. I feel in excellent condition and with great maturity to be a world champion. I’m sure it will be a great fight.” The two former cruiserweight contenders will go toe to toe for 12 rounds to challenge the World Boxing Council (WBC) bridgerweight world title winner.
The pair were originally slated to clash back in 2021. That fight would have taken place in Merhy’s home country of Belgium but had to be scrapped when Lerena broke his hand in training.
This could be Lerena’s opportunity to be South Africa’s third WBC champion. Mzansi has produced only two WBC world champions – the first being Thulani ‘Sugar Boy’ Malinga, who won the super middleweight title twice between 1996 and 1998. The second is Dingaan ‘The Rose of Soweto’ Thobela, who won the same title in 2000.
In the main supporting bout, Keaton Gomes (9-2, 7 KOs) will attempt to become the first man in a long time to successfully defend the South African heavyweight title. He takes on the former champion Joshua Pretorius (9-6, 5 KOs) over 12 rounds.
Welterweight – 6 rounds – Keanu Koopman v Peter DeKlerk. Junior welterweight – 6 rounds – Ntethelelo Nkosi v Gift Bolo. Junior bantamweight – 4 rounds – Ndabazinhle Ohiri v Miranda Malajika. Junior flyweight – 4 rounds – Sandile Wessels v Beaven Sibanda. The tournament is presented by Golden Gloves Promotions.
There is definitely going to be blood on the floor.
HUGE INCENTIVES FOR COMRADES MARATHON 2023
DISTANCE REVEALED: Athletes urged to report early due to roadworks
By Sports Reporter
The official route distance of this year’s 96th Comrades Marathon from Pietermaritzburg to Durban will be 87.701km. Upon completion of the official route course measurement conducted by the Comrades Marathon Association’s (CMA) Route Portfolio, Department of Transports Road Traffic Inspectorate and Msunduzi Traffic, CMA Race Director, Rowyn James has confirmed that the official race distance of this year’s Comrades Marathon Down Run will be nearly 2,2km shorter than last year’s 89.885km Down Run.
The last time that the race had finished at the HollywoodBets Kingsmead Cricket Stadium in 2016, the race distance was 89,208km; the same year in which David Gatebe set the current best Down Run time of 5:18:19.
Furthermore, when Frith van der Merwe set the still standing ladies best Down Run time of 5:54:43 in 1989, also at the Kingsmead Cricket Stadium, the distance was 89,6km. The difference in distances over the years is mainly due to the roadworks and varying routes taken on the run out of Pietermaritzburg.
James has also confirmed the cut-offs for this year’s race. There are 5 cut-off points along the route. In line with the Comrades Marathon Association’s (CMA) commitment and promise to runners and the media to restore the prize money back to the levels before the Covid-19 pandemic struck, the CMA has announced that this year’s prize purse will be a substantial R4.31-million, effectively a 90% increase on last year’s R2.27 million.
This represents nearly a doubling of last year’s 1st prize from R260.000 to R500.000 with 2nd and 3rd overall showing similar increases; from R130.000 to R250.000 for 2nd and R90.000 to R180.000 for 3rd position.
If the winner in either the Men’s or Women’s races in this year’s Comrades Marathon breaks the Down Run Best Times of David Gatebe (2016 – 5:18:19) or Frith van der Merwe (1989 – 5:54:43) respectively, he or she will take home a minimum of R1-million in Comrades prize money, comprising of a first prize of R500.000 plus a R500.000 incentive for breaking the Best Time. In addition to these prizes the First South African and First KZN athlete will each receive R200.000 and R 60.000 respectively.
The first South African citizen (Man and Woman) to complete the event will each receive R200,000 The first KwaZulu-Natal athlete (Man and Woman) to complete the race will each receive R60,000 from the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sport, Arts & Culture.
In addition to the prize money, 1-ounce Pure Gold Medals valued at around R38.000 each are awarded to the first ten men and the first ten women
INCENTIVES
FOR COMRADES
MARATHON 2023
Prize Money
Position
Men & Women
1st R500 000.00 2nd R250 000.00
3rd R180 000.00 4th R 90 000.00
5th R 70 000.00 6th R 40 000.00
7th R 35 000.00 8th R 30 000.00
9th R 25 000.00 10th R 20 000.00
Sports: Briefs
PROTEAS MAKE IT TO WORLD CUP INDIA
The Proteas have qualified directly for the 50-over World Cup to be played in India later this year after the first ODI between Ireland and Bangladesh was abandoned.
Ireland’s hopes of guaranteeing their spot at the World Cup with a 3-0 whitewash of Bangladesh came to a soggy end in Chelmsford as the series opener was washed out.
Cricket Ireland relocated the games from its own home venues to Essex in England in the hope of minimising the potential impact of the weather but saw its worst fears realised as the first ODI was abandoned due to rain.
As a result South Africa have now booked the final automatic spot in the tournament, to be held in India in October and November, leaving Ireland to settle for a place in the qualifying competition in Zimbabwe.
MADRID WOMEN FINALISTS MUZZLED
MADRID – Madrid Open organisers apologised Thursday after not allowing the women’s doubles finalists to make speeches after the match at the tournament last week, amid allegations of sexism.
The mens’ doubles finalists were allowed to speak to the crowd after their matches. Victoria Azarenka and Beatriz Haddad Maia beat Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff in the women’s final on Sunday but were not given a microphone to let them address the crowd.
“We sincerely apologise to all the players and fans who expect more of the Mutua Madrid Open tournament,” said Madrid Open CEO Gerard Tsobanian in a statement on Twitter.
SPRINGBOKS TO SPRING SURPRISE
Faf de Klerk says the Springboks are determined to “prove the world wrong” by retaining their Rugby World Cup title in France later this year.
South African fans will remember what a key role De Klerk played when the Boks won the Webb Ellis trophy for a third time in Japan four years ago.
The former Lions and Sale Sharks number nine, who currently plies his trade with the Yokohama Canon Eagles, was one of nine Japan-based players included in the Springbok squad during their end-of-year tour to Europe last year.
The 31-year-old said Japan’s shorter league season means he is in a better physical condition and feels the Boks will reap the rewards at the World Cup which kicks off in September.
TIGER IN THE WOODS
Tiger Woods has been ruled out of the 2023 US PGA Championship as the 15-time major champion continues to recover from an ankle injury.
It is the third time in seven years the American, 47, will miss the tournament.
Three-time major winner Jordan Spieth will take part, having been a doubt after withdrawing from the AT&T Byron Nelson this week with a wrist injury.
The second men’s major of the year is being held at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York, from May 18-21.
MATCH-FIXING IN BRAZIl
Brazilian authorities have launched a federal investigation into soccer match-fixing, the country’s Ministry of Justice and Public Security announced in a statement on Wednesday.
“The measure was taken this Wednesday after the disclosure that athletes from main division clubs of Brazilian soccer were suspected of collaborating with gangs that would act through sports betting,” the statement read.
This comes a day after the state of Goias accused 16 people of manipulating the results of 13 soccer matches in Brazil’s Serie A and Serie B, as well as the state championship in 2022 and 2023.
According to the Goias Public Prosecutor’s office, one player was given $100,000 (500.000,00 Brazilian Reais) for a red card with $10,000 (40.000 Brazilian Reais) paid to him before the game.
Published on the 98th Edition
