Wanganui-born boxer Robert Berridge has been doing hard, altitude-style training around Auckland and enlisted the services of a major American boxing coach in preparation for next weekend's IBO light heavyweight world title fight with Thomas Oosthuizen.
Berridge (26-2-1) will meet the undefeated South African Oosthuizen (24-0-2) in Gauteng, South Africa,in the early hours of June 7, New Zealand time.
Berridge has been training by wearing an "altitude mask", set for 6000ft, as he jogs around Castor Bay in Auckland - including running up the staircase that goes from the beach up the cliff face. "Still a lot of work to be done but I am not stopping till I get to the top. Hard work and dedication will pay off," Berridge said on Facebook. "I am also happy to announce that Barry Robinson from Clean Boxing will be joining us for the final stages of our training camp - good to have Bazza back after our Thailand training camp."
American coach "Caesar" Barry Robinson has helped train boxers and MMA fighters around the world. Key for the sparring camp will be finding a way for Berridge, at 173cm tall with a 178cm reach, to counterattack Oosthuizen, who has a 20cm height and reach advantage.
While the IBO belt is a minor version of the world title, the fight's importance is clear as Oosthuizen is being moved towards a potential superfight with the WBC world champion Adonis Stevenson, from Canada. "Of course, none of this will happen if Oosthuizen doesn't do the business against Robert Berridge next weekend," said fight promoter Rodney Berman. "He needs to win impressively, although perhaps not too impressively, if he is to earn the nod of Stevenson."
