IBO BANTAM CHAMP MOVES TO MILENKOVIC
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 28 Oct 2008
Well known 2007 WBC ?International Trainer of the Year? Branco Milenkovic?s growing stable has been joined by IBO bantamweight champion Silence Mabuza in what trainer Nick Durandt terms a ?pure busibess? decision.
Durandt is the trainer of IBF flyweight Moruti Mthalane who battles Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire in a mandatory title fight at the Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel and Casino on Sunday, Manila Time.
Mabuza?s move to dump his longtime promoter Rodney Berman of Golden Gloves Promotion and to join Branco?s Sports Promotions was considered a shocker in South Africa in particular.
Trainer Durandt has close ties with Milenkovic has been quoted as telling South African Broadcasting Corporation Sports that Mabuza?s move was motivated by a desire to seek career growth and not on ?personal issues? and the decision was made solely by Mabuza.
Milenkovic has a good reputation internationally and is regarded as one of the stalwarts of boxing in South Africa and even WBC president Don Jose Sulaiman has spoken highly of him.
Durandt brushed aside insinuations that since he is close to Milenkovic he had something to do with the switch saying Mabuza is 32 years old and felt ?he needed to speed up his career, so who am I to stop him??
Mabuza is the current IBO 118 pound champion and is rated No. 1 by the IBF. He was scheduled to fight a ten-rounder next month but has been removed from the card.
There is a strong rivalry between Berman and Milenkovic which is well known in South African boxing circles.
It was reported that trainer Mzi Mnguni was confronted by Berman when he handed over top IBF lightweight contender Ali ?Rush Hour? Funeka to Milenkovic. But the move paid off as Milenkovic was able to promoter a blockbuster card in which Funeka mauled Zahir ?The Z Man? Raheem in a title eliminator and earned a mandatory crack at IBF champion Nate Campbell.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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