A deal reminiscent of the successful partnership between top Johannesburg promoter Rodney Berman and the late Mzimasi Mnguni was signed recently, rekindling hopes of another East London boxing boon.
Berman signed Mdantsane amateur star Sanele Sogcwayi on a three-year contract, making him the first boxer in a long time to pen a deal with the Golden Gloves supremo before making his first professional debut.
Berman, who is still regarded as SA’s heavyweight promoter, has not dealt with East London boxers before they become professionals since his dealings with Mnguni in the 1990s.
The first and last East London boxer to sign with Berman before his professional debut was hot Olympian Masibulele “Hawk” Makepula in 1996, shortly after returning from representing SA at the Atlanta Games.
Makepula went on to win a slew of world titles under Berman, becoming one of the best boxing products in SA.
Berman said he was impressed by Sogcwayi’s resumé, the latest being winning a silver medal at the Mandela African Boxing Cup in Durban in April.
“This reminds me of my dealings with Mzi, and I am hopeful this will be similar to the huge success I enjoyed with East London boxing,” Berman said.
Berman has already targeted an October date to unleash his newfound talent, who will campaign in the featherweight division.
Sogcwayi’s manager, Thembelani Shakes Hlombe, described the deal as the best he had been involved in, having initiated it himself when his charge expressed an interest in turning professional after a stellar amateur career.
“I called Rodney to a meeting and he lent me an ear to tell him about this boy,” he said.
“I appreciated that because before then I had never spoken to him, but he was gracious enough to give me his time.
“When I showed him the profile of the boxer he was blown away and that says something for someone who has dealt with several talented boxers.”
Berman promised to make Sogcwayi — who comes from a boxing family, with his elder brother, Mhlanganisi, also a talented lightweight contender — a world champion.
“If he works hard and does things by the book, the world is an oyster for him,” Berman said.
There was concern about whether Berman would allow Sogcwayi to remain in Mdantsane as he often prefers his boxer to train under Brian Mitchell’s gymnasium in Johannesburg.
However, Hlombe said the matter was resolved, with an agreement reached for Sogcwayi to remain in Mdantsane but spend the last two weeks before a fight at Mitchell’s gymnasium.
“Brian also arrived in the meeting, and this was sorted, so when preparing for a fight, Sogcwayi will uproot to Johannesburg two weeks before to help him deal with other challenges, such as acclimatising,” he said.
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