JETHER OLIVA FIGHTS FORMER IBF FLYWEIGHT CHAMPION MTHALANE FOR IBO TITLE
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 23 Jan 2014
Former IBF flyweight champion Moruti ?Baby Face? Mthalane who relinquished his title rather that fight in Thailand for what was described by his trainer Nick Durandt as ?peanuts? will face Filipino Jether Oliva for the vacant IBO title at the Durban Convention Center in Johannesburg, South Africa on March 15.
Then announcement comes one day after the Philippines Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation champion Rocky ?The Road Warrior? Fuentes dropped a twelve round unanimous decision against former Thai Olympian Amnat Ruenroeng in a clah for the vacant IBF title on Wednesday in Thailand.
Mthalane?s trainer Durandt said they took the Oliva fight for financial reasons even as he agreed that the IBF title carried more prestige than the IBO belt.
Durandt revealed they would get ten times more than what was offered to Mthalane to defend his title in Thailand.
Super Sport in South Africa quoted the trainer who said Mthalane remained in good standing with the IBF. The organization?s administrators understood the reasons for the boxer's decision to give up the title.
Durandt revealed he had ?received correspondence from the IBF, thanking Mthalane for his services to the organization over many years and for his impeccable behavior as their champion."
Mthalane did not fight at all in 2013 and although he tried hard to secure a worthwhile defense three proposed fights were cancelled.
Mthalane won the IBF title in 2009 when he beat Julio Cesar ?Pingo? Miranda. He defended it in four times with the most recent being an 8th round TKO over Ricardo Nunez on September 1, 2012.
Mthalane who scored a 5th round TKO over IBF light flyweight champion Johnreil Casimero on March 26, 2011, lost by a 6th round TKO to then IBF/IBO flyweight champion Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire at the Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on November 1, 2008.
The 31 year old Mthalane has a record of 29-2 with 20 knockouts while Oliva is 36th on the IBO?s rankings list but has lost only once and has won 19 of his professional bouts.
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