Brakpan boxer is new South African heavyweight champion

Brakpan boxer Shaun Potgieter avenged his only loss as a professional when he knocked out Keaton Gomes in the 11th round to win the South African heavyweight title at Emperors Palace on Friday.

Gomes had previously beaten Potgieter in 2022. This fight was different, however, with Potgieter looking much leaner than when the two fighters met two years ago.

The Brakpan man was too good for the man he dethroned as the national champion. Potgieter’s record now improves to nine wins (six by knockout) with just one loss.

This was his first title fight and he has proved he can stand his ground despite going in the fight as the underdog.

“It was tough but it was worth it,” said the new South African champion.

Potgieter acknowledged that there was a difference between this fight and their first fight where he was stopped in the first round.

“My fitness was the difference. I was much fitter this time and I’ve lost almost 20kg for this fight. I was more confident coming into this fight. I was better prepared,” said Potgieter.

The weight loss was a big thing for the Brakpan fighter.

“The first time I fought him I didn’t feel right,” he said.

“I couldn’t move and breathe properly. As soon as I started losing weight I was a bit more mobile.”

He also saw the funny side of it.

“Coming for the SA title I wanted to make sure that belt fits me,” Potgieter chuckled.

The local man now feels that he is at a weight where he can dominate opponents.

“At 110kg I now feel comfortable. I’m going to stay here and build muscle from here. Get stronger and move forward,” he said.

The pool of heavyweight boxers in the country is not big so Potgieter is looking forward to getting into competing against international opponents.

“We are looking to get a fight or two abroad and then see who’s available to challenge locally,” he said.

“There are no heavyweights in South Africa now who are up for the fight because they don’t have the ratings yet. So we have to get fights abroad and see whoever gets the mandatory position to challenge for the SA title.”

Potgieter acknowledges that not a lot of people felt that he could win Friday’s fight and he’s proud to have proven them wrong.

“We came in and people believed that I would be knocked out within the first four rounds. But that was not part of the game plan.

“We knew that if we took him over five or six rounds I was going to knock him out and it was just a matter of time and patience. I just had to pace myself and wait for the right moment,” he said.

The hard work paid off and is credited to special people in Potgieter’s life.

“My wife and children played a big role in this,” he said.

“I didn’t just do this for myself but for them. My two boys also box and I wanted to inspire them. I wanted them to see that when it gets tough you start making changes within yourself so that the outcome can be better.”

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