Despite Shervantaigh Koopman failing to dethrone International Boxing Organisation (IBO) junior-middleweight champion Uisma dos Ramos Lima at the Emperor’s Palace in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, on Saturday evening, Golden Gloves managing director Rodney Berman is happy with how Siyakholwa Kuse fared during his fight.
Porto-based Lima, who was born in Luanda, Angola, handed Koopman his first career loss when he stopped him in the ninth round. After seeing that their boxer was in trouble having been on the receiving end of Lima’s blows, Koopman’s corner threw in the towel.
And Berman has spoken highly of Kuse, who weathered the storm to defeat Filipino boxer Samuel ‘The Silent Assassin’ Salva after he was decked in the first round.
“Kuse showed something special. He got caught, but came back. I think Kuse has learnt a big thing. He’s a very, very good fighter. I still think that he’s going to become a unified champion,” Berman remarked.
This was Kuse’s first fight under his trainer Vusi Mtolo. And it was also the first time he fought since he moved to the Brian Mitchell Boxing Academy in Edenvale from All Winners Boxing Club in Mdantsane.
Meanwhile, Kuse will now return to action on Saturday, 4 October, when he fights against Filipino opponent Joey Canoy in a World Boxing Council (WBC) minimumweight eliminator.
The winner of this elimination bout stands to get an opportunity to challenge current WBC minimumweight champion Melvin Jerusalem from the Philippines. – Monwabisi Jimlongo
