ODDS STACKED AGAINST NONGQAYI IN TITLE FIGHT AGAINST ARCE
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 24 Sep 2011
The odds are heavily stacked against former IBF flyweight champion Simphiwe Nongqayi who battles Jorge ?Travieso? Arce for the WBO junior featherweight title in Mexico on Sunday, Manila Time.
At the official weigh in on the eve of the fight Arce tipped the scales at the 122 pound limit while Nongqayi came in one pound under at 121.
Although Nongqayi outpointed Arce in a IBF junior bantamweight title fight in September 2009 the 39 year old South African is moving up two weight divisions and in addition is coming off a 14 month layoff, both of which are expected to work against him in a fight with a renowned ring warrior like Arce.
The colorful and popular Arce is bound to have the fans rooting for him as he tries to avenge his loss and a loss by his brother Francisco also to Nongqayi who has a record of 17-1-1 with 6 knockouts..
Boxing writer Ron Jackson of SuperSport in South Africa says he expects ?an emotion-charged atmosphere at the Foro Promocasa in Mexicali where Nongqayi will have to produce one of the biggest shocks of the year to win the title. ?
The 32 year old Arce, a former WBC light-flyweight, flyweight, super-flyweight and WBO super-flyweight champion, will make the first defense of the belt that he won when he stopped previously unbeaten Wilfredo Vazquez Jr of Puerto Rico in the twelfth round.
Jackson reported that Nongqayi's career went downhill after his outstanding victory over Arce. He battled to a 12-round draw in his first defense against Malik Bouziane of France and in his most recent fight, on July 31 last year, he lost the belt when he was stopped in the sixth round by Mexican Juan Alberto Rosas.
Arce, in contrast, remained unbeaten in his next six fights after losing to Nongqayi. He beat Angky Angkota for the vacant WBO super-flyweight belt, Cecilo Santos (KO 7) and Martin Castillo (KO 1), drew against Lorenzo Parra and knocked out Adolfo Ramos in the first round.
However, the well-known boxing writer posed the question as to ? how the WBO sanctioned the fight after Nongqayi?s inactivity is a mystery, especially because he has never fought at junior featherweight.?
The WBO website shows that Nongqayi is ranked only at No 15 of the division.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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