Ryno Liebenberg: record, next fight and profile →
Sauerland Promotion have a big show in the works for Stockholm (Sweden) with April 15 as the working date. Headlining the show is IBF Intercontinental champion Erik Skoglund (24-0) against South African Ryno Liebenberg (17-2).
Hekkie Budler won one of the most memorable fights in recent years in South Africa when he beat Simphiwe Khonco on points on Saturday night. The WBA and IBO minimumweight champion won the battle at Emperors Palace near Kempton Park 117-111, 115-113 and 116-112, and immediately conceded it had been one of the hardest of his career. Budler had to pull out all the stops to avoid a shock defeat such as the one the Springboks had suffered against Japan in their Rugby World Cup match earlier in the day.
Hekkie Budler will defend his WBA and IBO minimumweight titles against Simphiwe Khonco on September 19. The two South Africans will clash at Emperors Palace near Kempton Park in a Golden Gloves Promotions tournament that includes a bout between unbeaten super-lightweight Paul Kamanga and Jason Bedeman. Light-heavyweight Ryno Liebenberg will fight Makhosandile Zwengu for the vacant SA title on the undercard.
Tommy Oosthuizen beat Ryno Liebenberg on a split decision to claim the vacant IBO light-heavyweight title on Saturday night. The talented southpaw was almost back to his best in a hugely entertaining bout at Emperors Palace near Kempton Park. Judges Deon Dwarte and Ace Makaluza scored the bout 117-111 for Oosthuizen but Simon Xamlashe called it 115-113 for the courageous but outgunned Liebenberg. In a performance that should earn him a big-league fight soon, "Tommy Gun" Oosthuizen put his personal problems behind him and delighted his trainer, Harold Volbrecht, as well as his many supporters by not only going twelve rounds but looking in excellent shape at the end.
Tommy Oosthuizen and Ryno Liebenberg, who are due to clash in March, are now among the top twelve on the WBC rankings list. Oosthuizen has moved up from twentieth to seventh and Liebenberg, previously at No 21, is now twelfth. The two South Africans are scheduled to meet in a light-heavyweight bout at Emperors Palace near Johannesburg on March 21.
Tommy Oosthuizen intends trashing Ryno Liebenberg when they fight in March next year. "I'm no criminal, but it could be murder," Oosthuizen said on Wednesday when the tournament at Emperors Palace on March 21 was launched at SuperSport's headquarters in Johannesburg. The two South Africans will meet in a bout for the IBO light-heavyweight title. Oosthuizen, a former IBO super-middleweight champion, took the opportunity to explain his recent long absence from the ring. "Yes, I did go overboard partying and such-like but the boo boys were on my back in no time and started to berate me and call me a criminal. The only person I was hurting was myself," he said.
All roads lead to Emperors Palace on March 21 when Tommy Oosthuizen and crosstown rival Ryno Liebenberg do battle. For months, the two have waged a war of words. In March, their differences will be settled in the ring when Tommy Oosthuizen and Ryno Liebenberg meet in what is certain to be a SA super fight at Emperors Palace. Both are elite-level boxers, Oosthuizen a former IBO super-middleweight champion and Liebenberg a highly-regarded light-heavyweight.
For the first time in his professional career, Ryno Liebenberg will fight outside South Africa when he faces fellow unbeaten Eleider Alvarez this Saturday in Monte Carlo. Liebenberg (16-0, 11 knockouts) would appear to be taking a step up in class against the smooth boxing Colombian. “I think it's going to be a great fight,” said Liebenberg last week when still in South Africa. “Boxer verses brawler, his skill versus my ruggedness and toughness.”
Monaco - WBO/IBF #1 ranked bantamweight Randy Caballero (22-0, 13 KOs) of Indio, California, is the new IBF 118lb champion following a spirited effort against ex-champion Stuey Hall (16-4-2, 7 KOs) in a fight, that was much closer than lopsided scores (118-110 and 116-111 x 2) has suggested. After a cautious first, Hall attempted to methodically break Caballero apart. He wasn't very successful in doing that, and moreover was dropped by a short right hand of the American in the second round, which was a flash knockdown. Quickly up IBF #3 Hall continued to stalk the Californian, who answered in short spurts and also controlled the distance with his jab.
High-riding middleweight Martin Murray of the UK says he plans to “do a job” on Domenico Spada on Saturday, using the opportunity to demonstrate that he is one of the best middleweight fighters in the world.