Promoter clears way for 'butcher'

Robert Berridge punches Mariano Riva through the ropes during their October 10 fight at Trusts Stadium. PHOTO/FILE

Berridge likely to face rival MacKinnon after negotiations

There is nothing more frustrating to a boxer than red tape and paperwork when they just want to fight.

But dotting the I's and crossing the T's is one less thing Wanganui-born fighter Robert 'the Butcher' Berridge has to worry about as his banner year looks set to conclude with the matchup on November 16 that has been months in the making.

Coming off his October 10 knockout of Argentina's Mariano Jose Riva on the Joseph Parker vs Afa Tatupu undercard, Berridge's promoters Duco Events are working to get him on the undercard of the David Tua vs Alexander Ustinov in Hamilton.

Southpaw Berridge (21-1-1) will hopefully, finally, meet WBO Oriental light heavyweight title holder Daniel MacKinnon (21-7-1) in a matchup that has been off-and-on the table since May.

Negotiations initially broke down then between Berridge's manager Vasco Kovacevic and MacKinnon's handler Ken Reinsfield over which of their charges would get the bigger purse for a matchup they were going to promote themselves.

But since Berridge signed a six-year deal with Duco Events in August and has been featured on their shows, it appears the numbers are right to bring the two top Kiwi light heavyweights together.

Speaking in Wanganui yesterday ahead of running a Saturday training camp for fighters, Berridge said that money aside, he and MacKinnon just want to fight.

"He's saying on Facebook that he's selling tickets and tables, but still no contract's been signed.

"Last time it didn't happen because his manager and my manager didn't see eye to eye.

"But now Kenny's happy to have him fight on a Duco show.

"[Duco] seem to be able to pull the strings. It gets that little bit of 'oomph' behind you to get the bigger fights."

While MacKinnon holds the WBO Oriental crown and Berridge is the reigning NZPBA and WBC Asian Boxing Council champion, 'the Butcher' said it had not been confirmed if any belts would be on the line.

"It's up to Vas and Dean [Lonergan], I just got told to train.

"I had the weekend off [after the Riva fight]. Just three days off and straight back into it."

While Berridge is pleased with his success, as he looks ahead to bigger fights in his quest to win a world title he acknowledged he would have liked to have "cleaned up the backyard" this year.

That was perhaps a veiled reference to NZPBA super middleweight title holder Adrian Taihia.

Taihia pulled out of their October 10 fight with injury, but still came into the ring to have words with Berridge after he knocked out Riva in Auckland's Trusts Arena.

While Duco Events promoters Lonergan and David Higgins could no doubt spin the controversy into a potential high-profile match down the line, Berridge makes it clear the face-to-face was not for show he and Taihia legitimately don't like each other.

"That's alright, a bit of publicity ... That wasn't set up at all."