Mention the name Kgotso Motau and junior middleweight fighters will scurry for cover.
Even top rated middleweight fighters in the country shy away from the mention of the former Olympian fighter whose transition to the professional ranks this year has been phenomenal.
With seven knockouts in as many fights, Motau is current battling to find his eighth foe for his scheduled fight on 28 October at Nasrec Indoor Arena in Johannesburg.
His promoters Branco Milenkovic and Baby Jake Matlala said they had initially clinched a deal with sixth-rated Raymond Nyathi.
However Nyathi developed cold feet leaving Motau kicking his heels. It was the second time Nyathi had left Motau in the lurch after first agreeing to fight him on September 30 at Graceland in Secunda.
Nyathi then pulled out at the weigh-in leaving Motau to receive his purse without climbing into the ring.
Next to be approached was Emmanuel Dumma, who, after promising to fight, decided against facing the knockout specialist at the last minute.
Dumma was expected to easily agree to face the inexperienced fighter especially after causing problems for current SA middleweight champion Mpush Makambi when losing to a controversial points decision in Cape Town in August.
”It has become virtually impossible to find a middleweight contender who is willing to face Motau,” explained Matlala.
”Branco and I have approached fighters countrywide including all the rated middleweights to match against our man, but so far without success,” added Matlala.
Despite the reluctance of fighters to face him, Motau is still one of the most active fighters in the country having fought seven times since turning professional this year.
Milenkovic is thinking of matching him against international opposition to further the 20-year-old’s career in the lucrative middleweight division.
”We have even approached SABC TV people in this regard but we will see what happens,” Milenkovic said.
”But I am determined to give Motau one last fight before the end of the year even if it means I will have to open my back pocket.” – Sapa