BRANCO BLOWS HIS TOP
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 11 Sep 2008
WBC ?International Promoter of the Year? Branco Milenkovic has blown his top over the failure of lightweight mandatory challenger Ali Funeka?s handlers to send him to watch the WBA/IBF/WBO unification title fight between Nate Campbell and Joan Guzman in Biloxi, Mississippi on Saturday.
The well-known promoter was reacting to a story in the Daily Dispatch about the inability of Funeka's management to raise funds to attend the title bout.
Funeka wanted to be at special ringside so he could size up both fighters since he will be given a title shot against the winner.
Funeka earned the mandatory title shot with a sensational fourth round knockout over highly-touted Zahir Raheem in a double title eliminator card in East London last July. In the other IBF eliminator flyweight Moruti Mthalane scored a lopsided unanimous twelve round decision over Hussein Hussein and will fight IBF champion Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire for the title on November 1 at the Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel and Casino.
Milenkovic who is spending big money and working hard to bring top class fights to South Africa and help establish the country as an excellent venue for boxing ,actually staged the double-eliminator in order to give Funeka a chance to earn a title shot.
In a report filed by boxing writer Mesuli Zifo he said Milenkovic, the Johannesburg-based Serbian-born promoter was ?unceremoniously kicked out by Funeka's management after the fight? against Raheem.
Milenkovic lashed back at Funeka?s handlers saying their failure to send the fighter to the US was indicative of their inability to operate in the high level of boxing promotion.
Milenkovic was quoted as saying "This is the world-class level so you cannot tell me Funeka's management relied on charity in order to do what is right for the fighter."
He insisted it was imperative for Funeka to be at ringside since the American boxing media would want to get some first hand information on a future title challenger.
Milenkovic concluded ?I?m sure the US media wants to see this fighter who sensationally knocked out their top fighter Raheem,? who had beaten Mexican legend Erik "El Terrible" Morales and former world champion Luisito Espinosa of the Philippines among others.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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