Mthalane gives up his IBO belt for IBF bout

MORUTI “Baby Face” Mthalane has relinquished his International Boxing Organisation (IBO) flyweight belt because he will be involved in an International Boxing Federation(IBF) bout next week‚ trainer Colin “Nomakanjani” Nathan has confirmed.

These two sanctioning bodies do not unify. That means Mthalane has to be stripped of his title by the IBO championship committee the moment he steps inside the ring for the IBF international belt against Ardin “The Jackal” Diale of the Philippines at Mahikeng Convention Centre‚ North West‚ on Friday night.

New Jersey‚ US-based IBO president Ed Levine confirmed on Thursday that Mthalane was no longer his champion.

“Yes‚ Moruti Mthalane has vacated his flyweight title and we wish him well in his future‚” Levine said.

Mthalane won the title in 2015 and defended it three times.

Said Nathan: “It is with a heavy heart that we had to vacate the IBO title – which was beyond my control.

“My gratitude to the IBO championship committee for all the opportunities. I know that IBO would not have approved the fight for the IBF international title next week. But if I had it my way‚ I would have loved for him to keep the IBO belt.”

A win for Mthalane next week will see his current No 10 spot in the IBF improve. He will also be rated by the World Boxing Organi which does not rate IBO champions.

According to promoter Tshele Kometsi, the fight next week is aimed at affording Mthalane the opportunity to fight for the actual IBF strap that he vacated in 2014 due to a paltry purse that year.

Kometsi of TK Boxing Promotions said: “I was not going to pay IBO’s sanctioning fee of R250 000. It is just too much.

“I paid for Moruti’s defence against Genesis Libranza in April. Remember, I still have to pay the purses for Moruti and his opponent‚ accommodation and food for officials.

“I spoke to Moruti about the challenges regarding the IBO and he understood. Int the IBF is superior but I paid far less sanctioning fees than what I paid for the IBO,” Kometsi said.

Mthalane‚ 35‚ is from Lindelani in Durban. He has 34 wins from 36 fights while 29-year-old Diale‚ a former WBC International flyweight champion‚ has 33 wins‚ 11 losses and four draws.

Meanwhile‚ Sandile Xaka’s Supreme Boxing Promotions will stage its Young Gladiators 5 at Blairgowrie Recreation Centre in Randburg tomorrow.

It features mainly boxers from Alan Toweel Junior’s gym. — DDC