AROY?S SECOND SOUTH AFRICAN QUEST IS DANGEROUS
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 28 Oct 2007
MAASIN CITY, SOUTHERN LEYTE - Another dangerous bout for Batang Maasin Alex Aroy is on schedule. Aroy, who lost the controversial "lights-out" WBC international minimumweight fight against South African Zukisani Kwayiba in September 21, is returning to South Africa to challenge WBC international light-flyweight Phumzile Matyhila next month.
Aroy was disappointed when Kwayiba was declared the winner after only seven rounds last month. The South African was ahead on the official scorecards when the lights? power failed and was awarded the fight on a technicality. Most ringsiders had the fight even, while others had Aroy ahead at the time of the stoppage.
Kwayiba's promoter, Branco Milenkovic, who later criticized his fighter's performance, promised Aroy a rematch. However, the Filipino, who struggled to make the weight for the bout, said he could no longer fight as a mini-flyweight.
The next South African fight, to be held on November 30, 2007 at a venue yet to be confirmed, will serve as Matyhila's first defense of the WBC international light-flyweight crown he seized from countryman Sizwe Sinyabi in June 29, 2007.
BoxRec has indicated the bout will be held again at the Carousel Hotel & Casino, Temba, North-West, South Africa. But the WBC website stated that the bout will be in Nasrec, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Wherever it is, the threat of a hometown decision is always at hand. There?s always a hazard of another power failure. Matyhila, is no pushover, being a former 2000 Sydney Olympic fighter, and unbeaten in 15 fights, with nine knockouts on his professional record.
Then the judges have to be checked. In the Kwayiba fight, two hometown judges scored it for the South African champion. Tony Nyangiwe saw it 68-66 while Sylvia Mokaile also scored it 68-66. While a third judge Joseph Chaane had the fight an even 67-67, were mostly recognized by experts as the much better reflection of the bout.
"Because I promised him a rematch I felt I should give him a crack at Matyhila," Milenkovic said. Milenkovic said Aroy was pleased to come back and fight Kwayiba again but the Filipino spoke to Milenkovic about his struggle to make the limit in the mini-flyweight division. Aroy regularly campaigns in the light-flyweight division where he won the Philippine Boxing Federation title.
Milenkovic asked the WBC to waive the rule of not approving a fighter for an international title fight if he lost his last bout. "The WBC was glad to approve Aroy because of the controversial manner in which his bout against Kwayiba ended."
Aroy?s trainer Anol Jaca told this writer in a telephone interview that Aroy?s team will leave for Johannesburg on November 21. This is to let the Maasin Bomber acclimatize himself and adjust to jet lag.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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