Cruel fate for fight hungry Mulovhedzi

LIMPOPO’S only current world boxing champion Tsiko “Cruel Junior” Mulovhedzi says he is caught between a rock and a hard place regarding his future.

The IBO welterweight champion is excited to be back in action. He last fought in April last year, and says his fight against Italian Dario Socci – for a vacant IBF Intercontinental belt – in Bloemfontein on March 10 will afford him the opportunity to honour his departed father.

The boxer’s father, Rapshumela “Cruel” Mulovhedzi – a former musangwe (bare knuckle) champion died in November at the age of 107.

Already blind at death, Mulovhedzi senior was a ringside guest when Tsiko retained his IBO welterweight belt against Jesus Gurrola from Mexico in Seshego in April last year.

“I have received a message from the IBO that my belt will be declared vacant the moment I step inside the ring on March 10,” he said.

“I want to fight, earn some money and honour my father, but at the same time I will be losing the IBO title which is bigger than the one I will be fighting for.”

He claims to have hit a brick wall in his attempt to convince promoter Ayanda Matiti to include the IBO belt in his fight.

“I want to defend my IBO title but Matiti told me that he will not be told by a boxer what to do. He said he does not want to work with the IBO again. I am very unhappy because I fought hard for this title,” said the 31-year-old. He won the IBO belt in 2015 after demolishing Ali Funeka.

Attempts yesterday to get a comment from Matiti were unsuccessful. –