Knapp and Lerena take on big challenges in 2023

Golden Gloves Promotions' most exciting fighter, Roarke Knapp continues his climb to the top when he takes on Ahmed El Mousaoui of France on Saturday, 18 of March at Emperor’s Palace in a 10-round junior middleweight contest.

The bout will headline a tournament entitled “Peril at the Palace” which will also feature South African and IBF Continental Africa junior middleweight champion Shervantaigh Koopman, as well as junior bantamweight Ricardo Malajika.

Knapp has progressed well as a professional. He had a good 2022, reversing a previous loss to Brandon Thysse in an epic war and patiently outboxing dangerous Mexican, Dante Jardon.

He showed that he is more than just a blood and guts warrior with a big punch. He also has some good movement and boxing savvy in his toolbox.

He will need it against the much more experienced El Mousaoui who sports a very respectable 34-4-1 record.

The French veteran holds victories over former world champions, Carlos Molina and Junior Witter and has been the European welterweight champion.

He also dropped a competitive decision to former world champion and Manny Pacquiao conqueror, Jeff Horn.

His last fight was a split decision loss against undefeated countryman, David Papot for the IBA world junior middleweight title.

With only eight knockouts, El Mousaoui is not a big puncher, but he has solid boxing skills and has never been knocked out.

Fighting in front of a hostile crowd should not faze him either. He has been around the world, fighting in the US, Germany, Spain, Morocco, and Australia, even scoring some wins on the road.

Undefeated Shervantaigh Koopman is back from injury and raring to go. He will defend his national title against Jackson Kaptein over 12 rounds.

Koopman has looked the goods so far and Kaptein will be up against it.

Still, the Free State challenger scored a mild upset in his last fight, stopping Phikelani Khumalo in two rounds.

He has nothing to lose and that could make him dangerous.

Junior bantamweight, Ricardo Malajika will face a stiff challenge when he steps up to face Filipino Adrian Lerasan over eight rounds.

The 12-4 Lerasan is ranked number 10 in the world by the WBC and is riding a five fight win streak.

Three of those wins happened on the road, in Thailand no less, where it is extremely difficult to beat the house fighter.

Malajika had his ups and downs as a pro, but promoter Rodney Berman believes in his ability. “Some may say this is a step too far, but a win will put him on the map. I still believe in him. He is a good fighter.”

Looking further ahead, Kevin Lerena is set to return to the ring at Emperor’s Palace on 29 April.

It won’t be an easy fight either. He will face former WBA cruiserweight titlist, Ryad Merhy of France in a WBC bridgerweight world title eliminator.

Whoever prevails will be set to face the winner of the Alen Babic-Lukasz Rozanski fight, who will meet for the vacant WBC world title.

“It is good to see a WBC eliminator back on South African soil” says Berman.

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