Chris ‘The Wolf’ Thompson’s win over Juan Roux at the Emperor’s Palace in Kempton Park last Saturday has a potential to pit a son against his father in as far as manning boxers’ corners are concerned.
There’s a very good chance that Thompson will challenge current South African heavyweight champion Shaun Potgieter. Thompson is trained by Shannon Strydom while Shannon’s dad Gert trains Potgieter.
And if this clash takes place, it’s going to be the first time in South African boxing history that a son and his father get to work in opposite corners during a fight.
The fact that Thompson and Potgieter are friends makes this clash between the two boxers a very interesting affair.
“You know, it’s not a fact that I want to fight Shaun. It’s a fact that we have to fight. I think from both sides. It’s purely business. Shaun and I have had a chat about us fighting and the agreement is that the winner buys dinner with our families,” Thompson said.
Potgieter responded saying: “There are no hard feelings. Chris and I are brothers. We have helped each other in the past. We’re friends before the fight and we’re friends after the fight, but during the fight, it’s strictly business.”
At the moment, Potgieter is focusing on his preparations for next month’s clash against Malawian boxer Mussa Ajibu. The two boxers are going to face off in a Boxing5 tournament at the Box Camp in Booysens, Johannesburg, on Sunday, 13 July.
