Boxing is back

Boxing is expected to return to your screen in October when Golden Gloves Promotions presents a bumper card at Emperors Palace

September 10, 2020

Sabelo Mashego 2 minutes read

Hammer Gym star Tristan Truter (right) during his semi-final bout against former MMA star Boyd Allen. Photo: Nick Lourens.

After half a year of fear and uncertainty – a period which put sports and its competitors in serious and unprecedented jeopardy – the Advertiser can confirm that big time boxing is back.

Boxing will finally return to your screen on October 10 when Golden Gloves Promotions, subject to the approval of sports minister Nathi Mthethwa, presents a bumper card at the home of South African boxing: Emperors Palace.

The event, dubbed ‘Back 4 Battle’, will be highlighted by the eagerly-awaited 4@War junior middleweight final pitting Boyd Allen and Brandon Thysse in what’s expected to be a humdinger of a conclusion to the top four tournament.

The tournament kicked off late last year where both finalists landed on their collision course following their respective victories in the semi-final round where Allen defeated Boksburg and the Hammer Gym’s Tristan Truter and Thysse got the better of Roarke Knapp.

Not all was lost for the semi-final losers. However, they too will be presented with a chance to redeem themselves in their third place bout.

The eight-round bout represents a highly competitive match-up which will offer the winner the chance to put his career back on track.

Former South African amateur champion and ABU welterweight champion, Truter, put up an epic fight against Allen. It was touch and go, but in the end, he lost by TKO in the last round.

“It was a bit disappointing,” said Truter’s trainer Harold Volbrecht at the time. “I thought that he could have taken advantage of Boyd’s mistakes a bit more. He was still on his feet in the last round, I think they stopped it a bit early.

“At this level, with everything at stake, they could have let it go a bit longer.”

Truter goes into battle with a 8-2 record, including five knockouts while his opponent boasts seven KOs with an overall record of 9-1-1.

Elsewhere, Akani Phuzi will face-off against Chris Thompson WBA Pan African and South African championship bout.

According to Golden Gloves, many a hurdle had to be cleared for this event to take place and save the careers of hundreds of boxers, including the absence of a live crowd, extensive testing, reduced number of rounds and eco-isolation for all the participants.

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