SOUTH AFRICAN PROMOTER WANTS TO HANDLE DONAIRE TITLE DEFENSE
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 10 Jul 2008
Well known South African promoter Branco Milenkovic says he will try to convince Top Rank promoter Bob Arum who recently signed up IBF flyweight champion Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire to agree to let him put together the title defense of Donaire against Moruti Mthalane.
Mthalane earned a mandatory shot at Donaire when he handily defeated Australia?s Hussein Hussein in a title eliminator last weekend at the Jan Smuts stadium in East London, South Africa.
IBF Championship Committee Chairman Lindsey Tucker earlier informed Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today that Arum and Milenkovic who handles Mthalane were directed to begin negotiations for staging the title fight and gave them an August 7 deadline. If the two sides are unable to reach an agreement then the IBF will call for a purse bid.
Milenkovic said he doesn?t think it will be a problem asking Arum to allow him to put the fight together pointing out that he had ?worked with him two years ago for the HBO fight between Jorge Arce and Masibulele 'Hawk' Makepula.?
Should negotiations not work out Milenkovic, the top promoter in South Africa said ?I will go for the purse bid as I have done in the past.?
However, there are indications from both Arum and Donaire that there are plans for the Filipino world champion who won the title on July 7 last year with a sensational fifth round, one punch stoppage of Vic Darchinyan, to move up to super flyweight.
In fact Arum said he was planning a tune-up fight for Donaire in Mexico this September followed by a big fight against Mexican warrior Jorge Arce in the first quarter of next year in Manila.
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