BRANCO GETS BACK IN A BIG WAY
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 29 Oct 2008
Milenkovic.
Well-known WBC ?International Promoter of the Year? Branco Milenkovic has come back in a big way after being unceremoniously junked by the camp of IBF mandatory lightweight challenger Ali ?Rush Hour? Funeka.
Funeka?s handlers showed no gratitude to Milenkovic who not only got Funeka the break to fight Zahir ?The Z Man? Raheem whom he crushed in four rounds in a title eliminator that was part of a Branco Promotions blockbuster card in East London last July but also paid him a purse of R500,000.
Milenkovic demonstrated how astute he is when he negotiated for the Philippines Ranee ?KO Kid? Ganoy to face Ghana-born, Philadelphia-based Ray ?Emperor? Narh in a big card at the Carousel on December 5.
As www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports reported the other day Ganoy and Narh will battle for the IBF No. 2 spot. Funeka is No.1 and is the mandatory challenger to IBF champion Nate Campbell.
In a stunning move Funeka?s camp announced that Milenkovic would no longer be part of the fighter?s promotional group after he had beaten Raheem. Instead, boxing writer Mesuli Zifo reporter said they signed the fighter (Funeka) over to promoter Gary Shaw who is currently negotiating with the camp of Campbell.
In a smart move Milenkovic, with the help of international matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz and Filipino promoter Sammy Gell-ani was able to arrange a Ganoy-Narh clash for the mandatory second spot in the IBF lightweight ratings.
Milenkovic said ?I was clearly pleased when the IBF agreed to sanction the fight for the second spot, meaning the winner will move closer to getting an IBF title shot at the winner of the Funeka ? Campbell title fight if that fight takes place.?
Reports have been circulating that the IBF may strip Campbell of the title since he is locked in a legal battle with his promoter Don King after Campbell tried to free himself from their promotional contract by filing for bankruptcy.
The IBF has reportedly given Campbell an ultimatum to fight Funeka by December 8. Milenkovic said that if Campbell is stripped of the title the winner of the Ganoy-Narh showdown will fight Funeka for the vacant title.
Milenkovic pointed out ?either way it puts me in a very favorable position and I could not have asked for more.?
Narh has a record of 22-1 with 19 knockouts while Ganoy who fights out of Sydney, Australia and is known for his power in both hands has a deceptive record of 25-10-2 with 20 knockouts. Most of his losses came earlier in his career and by taking fights such as one against Michael Katsiiidis at short notice. The December 5 card will also feature a WBC junior bantamweight title eliminator between the two top contenders Evans Mbamba (15-0, 7 KO?s) and Thailand?s Devid Lookmahanak (18-=2, 9 KO?s).
Mesuli Zifo reported that former South African boxing great Ike Quartey of Ghana is also set to see action on the card but no opponent has been named as yet.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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