By Linda Ximba
The road of South Africa’s boxing bad boy, Thomas “Tommy Gun” Oosthuizen, to redemption continues this weekend.
The former International Boxing Organisation (IBO) super middleweight and light heavyweight champion is on a mission to redeem himself and regain the trust and respect of boxing enthusiasts
after hogging headlines for the wrong reasons two years ago.
The talented southpaw was in the news after he was sentenced to 17 months behind bars in 2018 for dealing in drugs.
Those misdemeanours cost him lucrative fights organised by his well-connected promoter Rodney Berman of Golden Gloves Promotions.
Fortunately for Oosthuizen his wife, Janie Hebler, who owns the 5th Elements Promotions, has offered him a chance to get back into the game and possibly earn a shot at a world title soon.
But he must navigate his way to the big league through Musa Ajibu, whom he meets in an international cruiserweight fight over 10 rounds at the Carousel Casino in Hammanskraal on Sunday.
Malawian Ajiby has been around since 2005. Among top boxers he has traded leather against include reigning World Boxing Council cruiserweight champ Ilunga “Junior” Makabu and SA and African Boxing Union heavyweight champ Chris “The Wolf” Thompson.
He boasts a record of 28 wins from 52 fights with 24 knockouts. He has suffered 11 knockouts in 18 losses.
On the other hand Oosthuizen has an impressive 16 knockouts in his 29 wins in 34 bouts, against three losses and two draws.
The Carousel Casino in Hammanskraal seems to be Oosthuizen’s happy hunting ground. In October he pulverised Malawian Limbani Lano in the sixth round in their non-title fight.
Last year he fought gallantly to score a points win over Youssouf Mwanza from DR Congo in their eight-rounder encounter.
There will be four more fights, and action begins at 2pm on Sunday.
Pictured above: Thomas Oosthuizen
Image source: @TimesLive
