Speaking to Channel Africa\u2019s Babazile Makhubalo on Sunday, Berman said the event promises \u201cthrill\u2011a\u2011minute boxing\u201d and could reshape the future of the sport.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The two finalists each earned $17 440 in eliminators, meaning the winner will take home $41 854 and become a millionaire overnight, while the runner\u2011up will leave with close to $46 504 \u201cIt is the biggest prize money ever offered for a domestic title fight,\u201d Berman said. \u201cThe winner secures a very bright future. For the loser, it is a long climb back.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Adding to the night\u2019s significance is a rare family clash on the undercard, with first cousins Brian and Gerard Tazer meeting for the SA light\u2011heavyweight title. Berman noted that the last time first cousins fought in SA was decades ago. \u201cWe have three Tazers on the bill. It is extraordinary,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Berman stressed that financial investment in boxing remains risky. \u201cSometimes it is not an investment; you can lose a lot of money,\u201d he said. \u201cBut promoters take these risks hoping a fighter eventually reaches world\u2011title level.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Golden Gloves is undergoing a strategic shift under new Co\u2011Owner Nivi Grogo, whose expertise in digital media is set to broaden the stable\u2019s reach. Berman said 2026 will mark \u201cthe year of the heavyweights,\u201d with three promising African contenders featured on the card.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The event will also showcase rising talent such as Monica Mkandla and Eastern Cape prospect Sineli Sokwai. \u201cWe try to give youngsters every opportunity on major platforms,\u201d Berman said, adding that lack of exposure remains a major challenge for SA boxing. \u201cThere is outstanding talent in places like the Eastern Cape and Limpopo that never gets seen.\u201d<\/p>\n
Berman confirmed that Golden Gloves will stage a WBC world title fight on May 16, headlined by Sibusiso \u201cSia\u201d Kusi, who narrowly lost to a world champion last year. Ricardo Malajika is also set for a world\u2011title eliminator in July.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
On women\u2019s boxing, Berman admitted his views had evolved. \u201cOld horses must move with the times,\u201d he said, highlighting promising fighters in the Golden Gloves stable.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
As for the message to fans, Berman said: \u201cExpect fireworks. Tazer and Knapp have fought twice, both great battles. This final will be something special.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
–ChannelAfrica–<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"news-type":[20],"class_list":["post-29602","news","type-news","status-publish","hentry","news-type-sport","entry"],"acf":{"short_description":"Golden Gloves Chief Executive Officer Rodney Berman says next weekend\u2019s Sole Survivor: The Final will mark a defining moment in South African (SA) boxing, with a record\u2011breaking $70 000 purse on the line in what is now the richest domestic title fight in the country\u2019s history. ","published_date":"","news_description":"Golden Gloves Chief Executive Officer Rodney Berman says next weekend\u2019s Sole Survivor: The Final will mark a defining moment in South African (SA) boxing, with a record\u2011breaking $70 000 purse on the line in what is now the richest domestic title fight in the country\u2019s history. ","form_embed":"","author":"","image_caption":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/29602","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/29602\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29605,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/29602\/revisions\/29605"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29602"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"news-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-type?post=29602"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}