Guess who is making a return to boxing? Jan “Kid Gavilan” Bergman and Harry “The Terminator” Simon. The former world champions will wow fans with their skills at Orlando Communal Hall in Soweto on July 31.
Bergman, 52, former Transvaal, SA and WBC International junior welterweight belts and WBU welterweight holder from Toekomsrus, last fought in 2010 in what was his fifth loss against 44 wins.
Simon from Namibia last donned boxing gloves competitively in 2018. The 49-year-old former WBO junior middleweight and middleweight undefeated champion, who also held the IBF International light heavyweight belt, retired with an unblemished slate of 31 wins.
Their six-rounder will be an exhibition match in TLB Boxing Promotion’s tournament that promoter Joyce Kungwane will stage in honour of fallen three-weight world champion Lehlohonolo “Hands of Stone” Ledwaba.
The former WBU bantamweight, SA and IBF junior featherweight, WBU featherweight champion died from Covid-19 complications on July 2 last year at the age of 49.
Ledwaba is the founder member of TLB Boxing Promotion and other members are Bergman, Dingaan Thobela and Kungwane. Ledwaba later relinquished his position and went back to training fighters. He did that with distinction before forming the promotion company.
Ledwaba trained fighters alongside his long-time trainer Norman "Hitachi” Hlabane – the legendary mentor – who also honed the skills of both Bergman and Simon.
Bergman, Simon and Ledwaba were bosom friends. "When Joyce called to find out if we can do this in honour of Ledwaba, we did not think twice,” said Bergman.
“Harry once stayed with Ledwaba at his house in Mondeor; that tells you about our brotherhood. Yes, it has been a long since I went to the gym and spar, but you know what ... I am motivated by the fact that we are doing this for Hloks. My body is sore but I will be more than ready for July 31.”
Simon’s son – Harry Simon Junior – will meet Chumani Tunzi over 10 rounds in one of TLB’s bouts, with John “Section 29” Bopape from Alexandra township topping the bill with the first defence of his SA middleweight belt against Snamiso Ntuli.
Tiisetso Modisadife and Zolile Miya will do battle for the Gauteng flyweight title in the main supporting contest. There will be five more undercards and action will commence at 2pm.
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