Deon Potgieter BOXING
One of the highlights of the most intriguing boxing bill in recent memory will be the presence at ringside of Irichelle Duran, daughter of the legendary Roberto Duran. Irichelle Duran has signed with Golden Gloves, the promoters of the tournament, and will be making her professional boxing debut in South Africa on May 13.
The 23-year-old Panamanian, who now resides in Australia, has received support for her decision to follow in her father’s footsteps by her whole family, although at first she encountered some resistance from Roberto Duran himself.
”My father taught me how to box from a young age,” says Irichelle Duran, ”so I am very comfortable with the idea of fighting.”
Irichelle Duran, who has the looks of a model rather than a boxer, says her choice of sport does not detract from her femininity. ”I can be very feminine,” she says, throwing her arms in the air and giving a playful smile. ”But when I climb into the ring, it’s business.” A very lucrative business at that. Expectations are that the signing of Duran will earn more profits for Golden Gloves than any other fighter previously signed in their 24-year history.
In other fight action this weekend, former International Boxing Federation (IBF) lightweight world champion Phillip Holiday hopes to capture the vacant International Boxing Council welterweight world title. He meets the undefeated European champion Thomas Damgaard in Denmark. Damgaard, a big puncher with 15 of his 18 victories ending via the short route is favoured to win, but Holiday, known for his impressive work-rate, could cause an upset.
Also on Saturday night, Namibian Harry Simon makes the second defence of his World Boxing Organisation junior middleweight world title in Dagenham, England. He meets number two contender Enrique Arico, in what is in essence a warm-up fight for an eliminator match with Bronco McKart in May. The winner of that bout will have a unification bout with the winner of the Fernando Vargas/Ike Quartey IBF title fight taking place in April.