Fuzile set for world title shot in Japan
Duncan Village boxing star Azinga Fuzile will have to go to Japan to realise his world title aspirations.
This after his promotional company, Rumble Africa Promotions (RAP), lost the promotional rights of his IBF junior-lightweight title eliminator against Japanese boxer Kenichi Ogawa in Macau on Thursday.
The twice postponed purse bids auction was won by Ogawa’s promoter Akihiko Honda of Teiken Promotions with an undisclosed amount.
The fight will be held in Japan on July 6 with the winner challenging reigning IBF champion Tevin Farmer of America.
While RAP had hoped to give Fuzile a home-ground advantage by winning the purse bids, the boxer’s manager, Colin Nathan, did not mind losing out on home support for the Duncan Village southpaw.
“I have fought in Japan before and came back with positive results,” said Nathan.
“I have been there with Hekkie Budler and Moruti Mthalane and returned home victorious. It will be the same with Azinga. Viva Japan!!”
Nathan steered Budler to a monumental upset win over Ryoichi Taguchi to capture three world junior flyweight titles in one night in Toyko in May last year.
This when Budler won the WBA, IBF and Ring magazine to prove that visiting boxers are able to win decisions in Japan.
Mthalane repeated the feat a fortnight ago when he pummelled Japanese challenger Masayuki Kuroda to retain his IBF flyweight crown on points in Tokyo.
RAP bosses Teris Ntutu and Nomfesane Nyatela, who are in Macau to also attend the IBF Convention, said the purse bids loss was not a train smash.
“We congratulate Teiken for the win and we hope that we will work well with them to organise a boxing match to remember,” said Nyatela.
While the purse bids did not go Fuzile’s way, his camp was however celebrating after it scooped four awards at the convention, which also featured an award ceremony.
Fuzile was voted as the intercontinental boxer of the year with Nathan taking the trainer’s award in the continent.
RAP, which are fresh from winning Boxing SA promoter of the year, was voted as the IBF continental promoter of the year while their fight between Fuzile and Malcolm Klassen scooped the best bout.
I have fought in Japan before and came back with positive results