BOXING
Deon Potgieter
History could be made in October if the proposed clash between Cassius “The Hitman” Baloyi and Phillip “The Timebomb” Ndou goes ahead. It would be the first time two current South African world champions face off against each other and that with neither title at stake.
Baloyi, undefeated after 25 fights with 13 knockouts, is the current World Boxing Union (WBU) featherweight champion, while Ndou, with 24 knockouts in as many wins with one defeat, holds the WBU junior lightweight crown. Although not yet signed, both camps have indicated their interest in getting the long-awaited match on as a catchweight bout. The venue for the proposed fight, Carnival City, celebrates its second birthday in October and these two could well supply the fireworks for the festivities.
While the boxing fraternity is divided in opinion about who would win this one, all agree it would be a cracker of a contest.
Baloyi, having recovered from a gunshot wound in the thigh sustained in a car hijacking a few months ago, is eager to get back in the ring and do what he knows best. Ironically, Baloyi’s brush with death has brought him more public attention and support than the 11 world title fights he’s contested.
That in itself illustrates why these two need to get it on in the ring against each other. Although both fighters have a following, neither of them has the pulling power as yet to fill Carnival City’s 5000 seats. Fans have grown weary of seeing them in action against imports few fight fans have heard of.
If they faced each other, however, locals would have a measuring stick of their abilities and this would go a long way in giving them both more credibility. It would matter little who the winner was. As long as both boxers put on a good show, their stocks would rise. A loss on a fighter’s record hurts his career only if he wasn’t all that good to start with. A gutsy display by a loser has been known to win him more fans.