Berman wields the axe on ‘Tommy Gun’
Tommy Oosthuizen’s January 18 fight against Elieder Alvarez in Montreal, Canada, has been cancelled amid reports that the 25-year-old has been fired by boxing promoter, Golden Gloves.
Oosthuizen and trainer Harold Volbrecht were scheduled to depart for North America this week for the bout against Alvarez for the vacant World Boxing Association’s Intercontinental light-heavyweight championship.
However, the big potential international breakthrough is now in ruins following reports that Golden Gloves’ Rodney Berman has axed the 1.93m-tall southpaw.
According to the Golden Gloves website, Berman said he was not prepared to tolerate Oosthuizen’s “habitual nonsense”.
“He’s done!” said a livid Berman on the site.
“He’s had so many chances and blown every one. Golden Gloves is the promoter of champions, of men of credibility, good standing and dignity. Tommy has let us all down. Fighters are meant to be role models, but he’s fallen very short.”
Berman’s comments came in the wake of Oosthuizen’s alleged bicycle crash. The Nashua trainee is understood to be overweight, because he had been nursing the alleged injury he obtained from the accident and subsequently pulling out of the showdown against Alvarez, which was to be televised by HBO in Canada.
Following his successful seventh title defence against Argentina’s Ezequiel Maderna in early November last year, Oosthuizen vowed to repay the support shown to him by his fans.
“I’d just like to thank all the people from Boksburg and the East Rand for all the support. I won’t disappoint in Canada,” he said.
Oosthuizen could not be reached for further comment.
