Golden Gloves promoter, Rodney Berman has entered advanced talks with leading UK promotional powerhouse Queensberry Promotions, paving the way for three of South Africa’s most exciting heavyweight prospects to showcase their talent on British soil.
Berman’s proposal to Francis Warren, son of legendary promoter Frank Warren, would see unbeaten trio JJ Alberts, Jose Kadima, and Ethan Peters featured on UK fight cards, with the potential of a co‑promotional agreement to accelerate their international careers.
“Our shared vision is to co‑promote these promising heavyweights. They’re young and raw, but the sky is the limit given what we’ve already seen,” said Berman, who previously guided the careers of world champion, Corrie Sanders and top contenders, Johnny du Plooy and Pierre Coetzer.
· JJ Alberts – Unbeaten in eight professional bouts, next faces seasoned gatekeeper Senad Gashi in May.
· Jose Kadima – Boasts five knockouts in six wins, scheduled to fight on March 28 at Emperors Palace.
· Ethan Peters – Current South African amateur super heavyweight champion, victorious by knockout in his pro debut, also fighting March 28.
Queensberry Promotions commands arguably the world’s strongest heavyweight stable, featuring Tyson Fury, Daniel Dubois, Joseph Parker, Fabio Wardley, David Adeleye, Agit Kabayel, Dillian Whyte, Zhilei Zhang, Lawrence Okolie, Derek Chisora, and rising stars including Moses Itauma, widely regarded as the most electrifying prospect in the division.
Aligning Golden Gloves’ prospects with Queensberry’s roster positions Alberts, Kadima, and Peters for maximum exposure and development against elite competition.
Berman also revealed plans to revive the celebrated Heavyweight Explosion series, originally developed with late business partner Cedric Kushner, under a new banner: “Heavyweight Hysteria.” The first event is targeted for May, ensuring South African fans can witness the trio’s journey while international opportunities unfold.
“We’re committed to keeping these youngsters busy and giving local audiences the thrill of seeing the big men back in action,” Berman enthused.
About Golden Gloves
Founded in 1977 by legendary promoter Rodney Berman, Golden Gloves is Africa’s most successful and influential professional boxing promotion.
Over nearly five decades, Golden Gloves has staged more than 2 000 professional contests worldwide and produced over 50 world champions – the majority South Africans, including icons such as Welcome Ncita, Brian Mitchell, Corrie Sanders and Lehlohonolo Ledwaba.
Renowned for its pioneering international partnerships and world-class events, Golden Gloves has played a defining role in elevating South African and African boxing onto the global stage and remains unmatched in its championship legacy and contribution to the sport.
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