Notwithstanding his anger before the fight, Golden Gloves boss Rodney Berman couldn’t suppress his dissatisfaction after Tommy Oosthuizen’s dominant 12 win over Fulgencio Zuniga at Emperors Palace at the weekend.
Oosthuizen was barely troubled as he retained his IBO crown for a sixth time, but there were glitches with his defence and he trades on the inside far more than he ought to.
He copped some heavy artillery in the middle rounds and although Zuniga wasn’t equipped to make him pay, a better fighter mighty have hurt Oosthuizen.
“I was disappointed in him,” said Berman, referring to Oosthuizen’s initial failure to make the weight. “The truth is that if he didn’t have the talent, I wouldn’t be disappointed. I don’t want to see his talent go down the drain. Unless he knuckles down, he won’t get to the top. Success in this game comes down to 99% perspiration.”
Commenting on Saturday’s showing, Berman said: “He was up against a very competent opponent, but still took too many shots. He has a great chin, but he doesn’t have to test it. Tommy did the job, but he doesn’t use his skills all the time. Nonethless, he won every round and that’s commendable.”
Berman also admitted that the January date against WBA middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin appears to be in jeopardy, Golovkin apparently reluctant to move up in weight against a boxer as formidable as Oosthuizen.
“I must admit, I was curious as to why Golovkin would want to move up a division against a guy so naturally bigger and taller,” said Berman.
He said that it was more likely “Tommy Gun” would fight on an HBO bill in the US on March 2. “Take my word for it: it will be a major, high profile bout. And I’ll be making Tommy and his camp fully aware of exactly what is at stake.”
Courtesy of goldengloves.co.za