By Mesuli Zifo

Fresh from a less than stellar performance when he saw off Ezquiel Maderna's challenge to his IBO super middleweight title, talented Thomas “Tommy Gun”Oosthuizen will move up to the light heavyweight to contest for the WBA interim title against Colombian-born Canadian Eleider Alvarez underneath the Jean Pascal-Lucien Bute clash at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on January 18.

Oosthuizen who has cracked the WBA top ten rating without a single fight in the division, is listed 7th in the division and got the rare opportunity after the sixth- rated and WBA Continental champion Najib Mohammedi passed on the chance due to unavailability.

The interim crown has just been made available after Beibut Shumenov was elevated into the super champion status, paving the way for top rated Marcus Oliviera and 2# Juergen Braehmer of Germany to battle for the regular belt on December 14 in Germany.

Ironically Shumenov will also be defending his belt on the same day against Tomas Kovacs at Alamadome in San Antonio, Texas, US.

Alvarez, 29, is unbeaten in 13 bouts with eight stoppages but his record is littered with nondescript opposition besides the shop-worn Edison Miranda who he appointed two months ago.

On the other hand the 25-year-old Oosthuizen has just emerged from a points victory over Maderna at Emperors Palace, South Africa a fortnight ago when he struggled to make the super middleweight weight limit.

His harder than expected win over Maderna was his ​​​22nd in 24 outings with two draws against Isaac Chilemba and Brendon Gonzalez in June.

Canadian promoter Yvon Michel whose GYM will present the Pascal-Bute clash has already contacted Oosthuizen's promoter Rodney Berman to work out a deal.

Berman said he has agreed for his unbeaten southpaw to be part of the big tournament in Canada.

“Ït is a fantastic opportunity for Oosthuizen to sell himself to the world as the card will be aired on HBO,” he said.

The two camps will now work out the financial details of the fight but Berman has already assured that Oosthuizen will sign the contract.