Ran Nakash will be in an eight man cruiserweight tournament based in South Africa called "Last Man Standing." The first round will take place on June 16 at Emperor's Palace in Kempton Park, South Africa and feature four eight-round bouts. The seven other combatants reside in South Africa. Nakash, who is the top seed in the tournament, is scheduled to face Johnny Muller first.
Let's take a closer look at the announced participants in the tournament.
Ran Nakash (26-1, 18 KOs) vs. Johnny Muller (10-1-2, 7 KOs)
Notable fights-
Nakash: L by UD to WBO cruiserweight titlist Marco Huck on April 2, 2011.
Muller: none.
Record vs. other fighters in the tournament-
Nakash 0-0
Muller: 0-1, L by 3rd round TKO to Tshepang Mohale on June 4, 2011.
Recently-
Nakash: After a controversial loss in a world title challenge to Huck, he outpointed Derek Bryant in January by a wide margin.
Muller: His last four fights have been at light heavyweight. Following the loss to Mohale, he decisioned Donald Kampamba in November.
Zack Mwekassa (12-2, 11 KOs) vs. Tshepang Mohale (8-4, 7 KOs)
Notable fights-
Mwekassa: none.
Mohale: L by 4th round KO to Thomas Oosthuizen on October 31, 2009.
Record vs. other fighters in the tournament-
Mwekassa: 1-0, W by 4th round TKO over Thabiso Mchunu on September 24, 2011.
Mohale: 1-0, W by 3rd round TKO over Muller on June 4, 2011.
Recently-
Mwekassa: He won four fights in 2011 after taking 2010 off in the wake of consecutive losses. He's 0-1 in fights that go more than six rounds.
Mohale: He was KOed in his last fight in August by Ryno Liebenberg and has been stopped in three of his last six.
Flo Simba (12-2, 10 KOs) vs. Thabiso Mchunu (9-1, 6 KOs)
Notable fights-
Simba: L by 6th round KO to Frans Botha on June 4, 2011.
Mchunu: none.
Record vs. other fighters in the tournament-
Simba: 1-1, W by UD over Daniel Bruwer on March 3, 2012; L by 1st round TKO Danie Venter on September 24, 2011.
Mchunu: 2-1, W by UD over Daniel Bruwer on November 5, 2010; W by MD over Daniel Venter on June 4, 2011; L by 6th round TKO to Mwekassa on September 24, 2011.
Recently-
Simba: His last fight was a win at cruiserweight, but is usually a heavyweight. He has been KOed in two of his last four.
Mchunu: His last fight was the loss to Mwekassa.
Daniel Bruwer (22-4-1, 19 KOs) vs. Danie Venter (12-5, 9 KOs)
Notable fights-
Bruwer: L by 8th round TKO to Alexander Alekseev on November 18, 2011.
Venter: none.
Record vs. other fighters in the tournament-
Bruwer: 0-2, L by UD to Mchunu on November 5, 2010; L by UD to Simba on March 3, 2012.
Venter: 1-1, W by 1st round TKO over Simba on September 24, 2011; L by MD to Mchunu on June 4, 2011.
Recently-
Bruwer: He's lost three of his last four and is 2-3 since moving up to cruiserweight.
Venter: His last six fights have been at heavyweight.He's won two of his last three.
He really should be a much bigger draw than this;this looks sorta like a step backwards..Some of the bigger names at cruiserweight must be ducking him..
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