South African promoter Golden Gloves believes it has a formidable new heavyweight to reckon with, but finding someone brave enough to share the ring with him is fast becoming the biggest challenge in local boxing. Last month, the towering Jose "Drago" Kadima sent shockwaves through the division, blitzing the experienced Johnny Muller with a first-round knockout. It was a statement performance that solidified Kadima’s reputation as a lethal finisher, and left opposition matchmakers scrambling for excuses. In the immediate aftermath of the knockout, Golden Gloves main man Rodney Berman approached the management teams of three prominent local heavyweights. All three promptly declined the offer to face the rising powerhouse. “It’s a major problem finding fights for this juggernaut,” admitted a frustrated Berman. “Africa might have something very special on its hands. He is a genuinely feared fighter.”

 

Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and now training out of Durban under the expert guidance of Shaun McMinnie, Kadima has put the continent on notice. He currently boasts an unblemished record of 8-0 with six knockouts. While McMinnie and Berman have brought the big man along meticulously, the consensus is that Kadima now needs stiffer tests to truly unlock his potential.

 

Remarkably, the heavy-handed prospect has logged fewer than 20 total rounds of professional boxing, courtesy of his habit of ending nights early. The search for a willing opponent moves to the continental stage next. Kadima is currently scheduled to fight on July 11th. With domestic rivals backing away, the path to greatness for Africa's most avoided heavyweight now lies in conquering the rest of the continent, one explosive knockout at a time.