Ryno Liebenberg can add a fifth belt to his collection if he passes the stiffest test of his boxing career this weekend.
The 30-year-old South African, who has won four belts in 15 professional fights, takes on Denis Grachev of Russia at Emperors Palace near Kempton Park on Saturday night.
The winner receives the still vacant WBC silver light-heavyweight belt. Liebenberg, whose record of 15-0 includes 11 wins inside the distance, has already won the IBO All-Africa, IBO intercontinental, WBC international silver and WBC international belts.
Now he meets a 32-year-old opponent with a record of 13-3, with one draw and 8 shortcut victories. This may not seem impressive, but among his opponents were former IBF light-heavyweight champion Lucien Bute, who beat him on points over ten rounds.
He has also fought the capable Edwin Rodriguez, who stopped him in the first round, and Isaac Chilemba, who also beat him on points over ten.
Liebenberg, who is from Krugersdorp west of Johannesburg, made his professional debut in July 2010 when he knocked out Castor Ndou in the third round. He has beaten SA light-heavyweight champion Johnny Muller twice.
Both Grachev and Liebenberg are aggressive fighters and the bout could turn into a crowd-pleasing. The referee will be Fred Ghartey from Ghana and the judges Kevin Scott from the US, Lateef Muiss from Nigeria and South African Joe Chaane.
SONJICA?S SECOND DEFENCE
On the same card of the Golden Gloves Promotions tournament, Thabo Sonjica makes the second defence of his IBO super-bantamweight title against Roli Gasca of the Philippines. The challenger is at No 11 on the IBO rankings list.
Sonjica, from Duncan Village near East London, is 24 years old and a former SA junior featherweight champion. He has a record of 19-2, with 14 wins inside the distance.
He won the IBO belt on July 6 last year when he stopped Silvester Lopez in the sixth round. In his first defence, on June 8 this year, he stopped SA bantamweight champion Toto Helebe in the first round.
Both his defeats were against Macbute Sinyabi, whom he beat convincingly on points over 12 rounds in a third match-up.
The 25-year-old Gasca has a record of 22-4-1, with 6 shortcut wins. He has been a professional for seven years but has not fought any well-known opponents. His defeats have all been on points. The last two were against Alexander Bakhtin for the IBO super-bantamweight title and Yukinori Oguni, who also beat him in their first fight.
With six wins inside the distance the visitor cannot be regarded as a dangerous puncher. Sonjica should beat him, at least on points.
Tony Nyangiwe of South Africa will be the referee and Sazi Xamlashe (SA), John Rupert (US) and Torben Hansen (Denmark) the judges.
Olwethu Ngamlana and Thabang Ramagole will meet over six rounds at junior flyweight and Thanduxolo Gatweni faces Ashley Dlamini, also over six rounds, in a junior lightweight bout.
Unbeaten cruiserweight prospect Kevin Lerena goes in against Marco Antonio Aumada of Argentina in a scheduled right rounder.
