FILE PICTURE: Ezequiel Maderna and Tommy Oosthuizen during a press conference held at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park. Picture: Neil McCartney
Both will put their IBO titles on the line against South American opposition on Saturday night when they headline the ”Fighting Force” bill at Emperors Palace.
Particularly vocal was trainer Alberto Zacarius whose charge, Ezequiel Maderna steps in against Oosthuizen for a crack at the super-middleweight title. “Ezequiel is an Olympic boxer.
He is the Latin champion. Remember Ezequiel Maderna, a new champion of the world,” Zacarius piped up in broken English yesterday.
“The Argentinian boxers only speak in the ring,” he added referring to the limited vocabulary of both Maderna and countryman Hugo Verchelli who opposes Budler for the organisation’s minimumweight crown.
But Oosthuizen proclaimed that his unbeaten record would remain intact.
“It’s going to be a case of don’t cry for me, Argentina,” Oosthuizen, who makes a seventh defence of his IBO belt, said at yesterday’s pre-fight medical at the casino complex.
“Hekkie Budler is a good champion but I am ready,” Verchelli, who has only featured in 12 professional fights with 11 wins and one loss, said through a translator.