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Johannesburg - A bizarre turn of events has forced Golden Gloves promotions to include Thomas "Tommy Gun" Oosthuizen in their year opening Power at the Palace bill on March 3.
News that Filipino Florante Contes, who was scheduled to meet South African Hekkie Budler in an IBO title fight, had to withdraw after falling out of a tree, forced the organisers to change the programme.
Oosthuizen will now head the bill in his fourth IBO super-middleweight title defence fight against Australian Serge Yannick.
The 23-year-old southpaw's challenger has seven knockouts in 14 wins from 15 fights.
The Boksburg boxer's trainer Harold Volbrecht said on Thursday that Oosthuizen "was the whole package".
"If he keeps it together and he works hard, he could be one of the best fighters this country has had for a very long time," Volbrecht said.
Oosthuizen said that last year had been a good year for him in the ring, but he was looking for improvements in 2012.
"I made myself new promises this year - bigger, better, faster, stronger - that is where I will be going," Oosthuizen said.
"On March 3, I will not disappoint and I will be explosive."
The five-bout programme will also see Daniel Bruwer, who is back in the Golden Gloves stable, go up against cruiserweight boxer Flo Simba in a 10-round catchweight fight.
The other fights on the night include South Africans Joey Stiglingh and Sipho Taliwe tussling for the WBC international junior-lightweight title.
It was clear at the announcement of the bill at Emperors Palace that the duo had immense respect for each other. Defending champion Taliwe said they were like friends and helped each other during sparring sessions.
For the IBO World junior lightweight title, Steve Wills of Australia will climb in the ring with South Africa's Kaizer Mabuza.
Mabuza conceded this was his last chance at redeeming himself after recent jarring setbacks to his career.
"This is a make or break fight for me and I've been working hard for this fight," Mabuza said.
"It’s a must-win for me and I went back to the basics. Winning makes you relax and I have to go back to the basics, but I think this time the fight is mine."
