FANA MAY GET ANOTHER TITLE SHOT
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 20 Jan 2009
Former IBF junior lightweight champion Mzonke Fana may get another title shot according to well-known South African promoter Branco Milenkovic.
Fana won the title with a split decision win over fellow South African Malcolm Klassen on April 20, 2007 but lost the title to Cassius Baloyi by a majority decision last April 12, 2008..
Fana who scored a controversial split decision over the Philippines Randy Suico in a title eliminator on May 28, 2004 went on to fight Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera for the title and was demolished in two rounds.
Fana who has promised to come back from his loss to Baloyi is hoping that he can get a crack at the winner when Baloyi defends his title against Klassen either in March or April this year.
Milenkovic has been quoted as saying that Fana?s chances of fighting the winner are ?very good.? However, the WBC ?International Promoter of the Year? indicated that Fana will probably have to first win an eliminator which is a standard rule of the IBF.
In his last fight on August 29, 2008 Fana who has a record of 28-4 with 11 knockouts scored a third round KO over a badly outclassed Victor Manon from the Philippines.
Milenkovic noted that Fana is ranked No. 4 adding ?I believe he could just get another crack? at the title although Fana?s trainer Zola Kiti is impatient to get his fighter back in the ring.
While conceding that Milenkovic handles a number of fighters and has a fully booked program, Koti said ?my boxer (Fana) is getting older, not younger.? The former world champion turns 36 in October.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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