BRANCO WINS PURSE BID; JOYI BATTLES GARCIA FOR IBF TITLE IN SOUTH AFRICA
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 08 Jan 2010
Classy Nkosinathi "Mabhere" Joyi’s efforts to win a world title has been given a major boost by internationally respected South African promoter Branco Milenkovic who has won the purse bid called for by the IBF in a head-on clash with renowned Top Rank promoter Bob Arum.
Joyi earned the title shot at undefeated mini flyweight champion Raul”Rayito” Garcia of Mexico following his comfortable twelve round decision over former champion Florante Condes of the Philippines in June 2009.
After his win over Condes, Milenkovic told us he would do everything possible to bring the title fight to South Africa and he kept his promise when Branco Sports Productions beat Top Rank in the purse bid.
Under IBF rules Milenkovic now has 90 days in which to stage the fight.
Garcia himself won the vacant title with a twelve round split decision over Condes in his hometown of La Paz Mexico on June 14, 2008.
Although Milenkovic who has worked hard to ensure that South Africa emerges as a force in international pro boxing said he was excited over his triumph “but also slightly poorer because, as you know, these purse bids cost huge amounts of money. And to bring a champion down to fight in the challenger's country is no easy feat, especially when it is Bob's fighter.”
Milenkovic said Arum “is a very big person in world boxing and with fighters like Manny Pacquiao, Humberto Soto, and Kelly Pavlik, he carries a lot of financial muscle. So beating him is a very big moment for me."
The title fight of the 27 year old Joyi is scheduled to take place on March 26 but Milenkovic disclosed that “finances would dictate the final venue” pointing out that while East London was an ideal site to bring it there “would require additional help from corporate sponsors and perhaps even government because I would have to fly about 40 people from Johannesburg to East London and accommodate them for the week."
Boxing writer Sabelo Skiti recalls that in the eliminator against Condes, Milenkovic allowed the province's Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture to advertise in the ring
for free, so it is not out of the question for them to return the favour and bring the fight to the Orient Theatre.
Milenkovic expressed the hope that the talented Joyi will “ repay my faith in him and win the title against” noting that 2009 was a good year for him since he “produced four IBF champions in six months, but I also lost one. So I'm relying on Joyi to take me back to four world champions."
Fighting before a hometown crowd is likely to be a key advantage for the former International Boxing Organizaton champ to stretch his unbeaten record to 21 fights (15 KOs)But he will still have to produce his best against the champion.
Garcia who has a record of 27-0-1 with 16 knockouts has defended his title four times - all in Mexico - since winning it in 2007.
Milenkovic said "The crowds can be very hostile in Mexico and they can be in the tens of thousands which would have made it difficult to challenge there. But Joyi must not take it easy now that he is at home because, just like him, Garcia is also unbeaten and has more experience."
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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