Berridge double banger on the cards

PERFECT STYLE: Robert Berridge will try to beat two men in one evening to win the light heavyweight portion of the Super 8 tournament in Auckland in November. PHOTO/FILE A_250415WCLGBOXING10

EXPAT Wanganui boxer Robert Berridge has his next fight all sewn up and hopes another one will be right behind it.

The 30-year-old southpaw, who lost in a points decision for the IBO Light Heavyweight world title to South African Thomas Oosthuizen in June, has signed to fight in the Super 8 boxing tournament at Auckland's Sky City in November.

For the first time as a professional Berridge (26-3-1) will have the challenge of potentially fighting twice in one night in the light heavyweight tournament.

That is because Super 8 promoter John McRae has changed the format from having one eight-man tournament to having separate four-man events with the cruiserweights.

"It's pretty much a fantastic four," said cousin and Wanganui trainer Paul Berridge.

The other men in the tournament are Christchurch's Reece Papuni (10-1) and Fiji's Joseph Kwadjo (21-10) with a fourth fighter yet to be announced.

It will be the first Super 8 tournament under McRae's rebranded VS Live group, after the arrangement with Sky Television to run Sky Arena ended in May.

So the fight will not be on pay per view.

Instead it will be on Sky Sport 1 at 7pm on November 3.

Paul Berridge thought that would help the overall exposure of the event by bringing in more eyeballs and ratings.

That would be good for The Butcher if he can put on a good show and add to his 21 knockouts.

"It's back in the spotlight, which I think will do him a world of wonders."

Robert Berridge's first concern will be getting back down to a fighting weight of 79.4kg.

He is currently walking around at 87kg.

The tournament's fights consist of three rounds lasting three minutes, with the two winners of the opening bouts advancing to the final that night.

The brackets will not be announced until the weigh-ins before the event.

Paul Berridge said that would be fine for his heavy-handed cousin.

"When he first come into the professional ranks he was gung-ho from the start [of the fight].

"He was hell for leather, so that and being more strategic [will help]."

The key matchup at the event is likely to be Berridge v Papuni, two of the more highly touted local light heavyweights yet to face each other.

Papuni has seven knockouts to his credit and his sole defeat has been to Australian Trent Broadhurst in June.

Berridge is the only man to defeat Broadhurst, knocking him out in 2011.

Both he and Papuni have defeated tough Waikato farmer Andrew Robinson on points.

"That's the ideal match-up.

"It would be a dream final if you have those two matched up," said Paul Berridge.

A tournament victory may also keep Robert Berridge in the bubble of the vacant IBO championship picture, after Oosthuizen was stripped of the belt when he did not make weight for their title fight in Gauteng, South Africa.