Jan Bergman one of SA’s most exciting boxer punchers

Jan “Kid” Gavilan, who fought from 1990 to 2010 and spent most of his career as a junior welterweight and welterweight, was one of South Africa’s most exciting boxer/fighters.

Born Jan Piet Bergman in Carletonville in the then Western Transvaal on 19 May 1970 he made his pro debut on 26 February 1990 at the Don Mateman Hall in Eldorado Park, Johannesburg, against Simon Oupa, winning on a third-round knockout.

Trained by Bokkie Martin he won his next six fights in style before winning on a third-round knockout against Edward Mogemi to take the Transvaal lightweight title. He would make successful defences of the title against Ruphus Seanego (tko 4) and Walter Mpungosa (tko 10).

Jan would continue his winning streak in his next five fights, before meeting the capable Grant Messias in a clash for the vacant Transvaal junior welterweight title and scoring a sensational third-round knockout.

After scoring points victories in his next two fights, he beat the stylish Aaron Kabi on a 12-round split decision for the South African junior welterweight title.

Continuing with his fine form he scored inside-the-distance victories over the highly rated Viktor Branov (vacant WBC International title) and Kamel Bou Ali (tko 7) to retain the WBC International title.

He then won against Jesus Rojas (ko 5) and beat Kabi in a return fight to retain the South African title.

After winning his next three fights he travelled to Las Vegas, to outscore Rey Collins on points over 12 round to retain the WBC International title.

Remaining unbeaten in his next four fights, all inside the distance, he once again travelled overseas to Newcastle in Australia and challenged Kostya Tszyu (17-0) for the IBF junior welterweight belt only to suffer his first loss when he was knocked out in the sixth round.

Winning his next two fights he then went in against Junior Witter in Manchester to lose on points over six rounds with a score of 59-57 (the referee was the sole judge). Witter would go on to win the WBC junior welterweight belt.

After outpointing Naas Scheepers (pts 10 in Hammanskraal) he once again went on his travels to win against Alan Bosworth (tko 6 in Munich) and Dindo Canoy (tko 7 in Peterborough, England).

On 12 February 2000 he had his second crack at a world title when he went in against Zab Judah at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, USA for the vacant IBF junior welterweight belt.

However, after having Judah (21-0) down in the second round he was knocked out in the fourth round.

Being out of action for a bit over a year he returned to the ring to win on a spectacular third round knockout with a big left hook against Joseph Makaringe (15-1).

On 2 June 2001 he achieved his ambition of winning a world title even though it was for one of the lesser organisations, when he stopped Guillermo Mosquera in the sixth round for the vacant World Boxing Union welterweight belt.

He made two successful defences of the WBU belt before losing in a challenges for the International Boxing Organistaion and World Boxing Foundation welterweight belts against Jawaid Khaliq (tko 7) and James Hare (tko 2).

After a long and somewhat successful career’, even though he lost in challenges for one of the main organisation’s belts, he was out of the ring from 6 September 2003 before having two more fights aginst Gotlieb Shileka (W ko 8) on 3 March 2007 and in a return with Shileka (W tko 3) on 4 December 2010, both in Windhoek, Namibia.

He finally hung up his globes to retire with a creditable record of 44-5; 33.