Super talented fighter Thomas “Tommy Gun” Oosthuizen who has made headlines for the wrong reasons in the past has courageously called out reigning WBC cruiserweight champion Ilunga “Junior” Makabu for a showdown.
“It’s time for all South Africans to stand behind me and take the WBC title away from Ilunga Makabu,” said the former IBO super-middleweight and light-heavyweight champion about his Congolese foe.
“I don’t have sleepless nights over Makabu because I know what I am capable of and you know me too. I want to give glory to God – without his saving grace the [fight on Sunday] would not have been possible. I also want thank my wife, trainer Sean Smith and gym mate and sparring partner Isaac Chilemba.”
Oosthuizen of Boksburg in Ekurhuleni blasted Limbani Lano of Blantyre, Malawi, in the sixth round at the Carousel on Sunday. The local left-hander had not fought for over a year.
But Lano did not give Oosthuizen the challenge that would have forced him to think or dig deeper so he can be able to gauge where he is going, especially after being out of action for that long.
But Oosthuizen says he does not care what experts may say.
"All I want is the WBC cruiserweight title that is held by Makabu," he said.
The Kananga-born DR Congo champion who fights out of the Durandt Gym of Damien Durandt in Johannesburg has defended the belt successfully twice.
“I handled myself well in the fight [against Lano]; there was nervousness which sharpened me. It also made me focus on an opponent and it energised me more. I took it as a pressure and the more pressure – the better I perform,” said Oosthuizen in his parting shot.
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