Talk of Konkco move ‘not true’

Simpiwe Konkco will headline Last Born Promotions (LBP) for the second time in a row fuelling perceptions that he may have left Rodney Berman’s promotion.

But LBP director Mla Tengimfene says the Mthatha-born Johannesburg-based IBO mini-flyweight champion has not signed a promotional contract with them.

“We have an arrangement with Rodney to use Konkco in our shows and so far everything is going well,” said Tengimfene.

Konkco returned to action in a LBP show in Mthatha in July after more than a year of inactivity which threatened to relieve him of his world title and lofty world rating.

Berman under whose promotion Konkco has been fighting leased him out to LBP as he could not get a space for him in his shows at Emperors Palace.

“The Emperors Palace audience does not respond well to small boxers such as Konkco hence we decided to let LBP to use him,” said Berman.

Now after retaining his IBO crown against Filipino Toto Landero in Mthatha, Konkco will again swing back to action against another Filipino when he defends the title against Joey Canoy at Orient Theatre on December 2.

Now rated first for the WBC title held by Thai Wanheng Menayothin, Konkco should get a shot at then “Dwarf Giant” if he beats Canoy.

Menayothin is renowned for breaking Floyd Mayweather’s fight record of being undefeated in 50 bouts making Konkco’s possible fight against him a bit historic.

“I am not getting any younger now so I need to get into a unification with one of these top guys,” said

We know Canoy so he will not be a difficult opponent for us

the 32-year-old boxer.

Trained by Colin Nathan in Johannesburg, Konkco will not face a closed book in Canoy as the Filipino fought against his stablemate Hekkie Budler before.

“We know Canoy so he will not be a difficult opponent for us,” said Konkco.

The loss to Budler was Canoy’s third in 18 bouts and the last having won his next two bouts including a victory over capable compatriot Melvin Jerusalem.

On the other hand Konkco’s ledger spots five defeats in 24 bouts in what can be described as deceptive.