‘Babyface’ may get to defend his crown at home
MORUTI ‘‘Babyface” Mthalane’s dream of defending his IBF flyweight title in his home province for the first time could be realised. Trainer Nick Durandt revealed this week that the KwaZulu-Natal government was willing to come to the boxer’s rescue ahead of his mandatory defence against Romanian challenger Silvio Olteanu.
Mthalane does not have a promoter after refusing to renew his contract with Branco Milenkovic last year. He runs the risk of having to agree to whatever demands are put on the table by Richard Sanchez Atocha — who heads the Rimer Boxe team that manages Olteanu’s career — when the IBF conducts a purse bid in New Jersey, in the US, next week.
The Durban-born boxer faces the possibility of not only having to travel to Spain — where the chal- lenger is based — to make the fifth defence of a world title he won at Johannesburg's Wembley Arena in 2009, but of also earning peanuts if Atocha wins the purse bid unopposed. Durandt said this week he had approached the KwaZulu-Natal government and provincial promoter Thulani Magudulela had been appointed for the fight.
‘‘Funds must be released and lodged with the IBF before Thulani and I can talk of flying out to New Jersey,” Durandt said. ‘‘I’m hoping to make Moruti’s dream of fighting at home in KwaZulu-Natal come true. In fact, it is about time he fought at home. People have forgotten who Moruti is.”
Magudulela said the KwaZulu-Natal government officials had proved their commitment to resolving Mthalane’s plight when they upgraded his promoter's licence from local to international status to enable him to stage a world title fight.
Although sports and recreation's Gugu Khumalo confirmed the provincial government’s commitment to helping the boxer, she said nothing had been finalised as yet.
Mthalane is hoping for divine intervention and for the saga to have a happy ending.
‘‘I’m praying that something special happens next week,” Mthalane said after a training session at Durandt’s new gym in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Thursday. ‘‘My wish is to defend here (in SA).”
Mthalane last fought in South Africa on March 26 2011 when he outpointed Filipino John Riel Casimero in his second defence of the IBF crown at the Nasrec Arena, near Soweto.
The champion’s first defence took place at Carnival City, Brakpan, where he stopped Zolani Tete in five rounds on August 1 2010. Both fights were organised by Milenkovic but were not televised.