By Manny Pinol
The International Boxing Organization (IBO) World Junior Flyweight championship between defending champion Rey Loreto of Davao City and Nkosinathi Joyi of South Africa set tomorrow, Dec. 13, in East London, South Africa has been scrapped.
South African promoter Siphatho Handi of Mamali Sports Promotions informed IBO President Ed Levine by email that four fighters in the main bouts in the card have withdrawn from the fight because of injuries.
The cancelled championship should have been the second meeting between Loreto and Joyi.
On Feb. 1, this year, Loreto, a former journeyman, who was picked to fight the two-time world champion Joyi, knocked out the South African in their championship bout in Monte Carlo, Monaco.
Loreto is the first world boxing champion from Davao City.
In his letter to the IBO, Handi said: “It is with regret to advise you that the above IBO World Championship bout is postponed to February 28, 2015.
“The reason for the postponement is the pulling out of opponents of four other championship bouts resulting in the sponsors threatening to pull out as well unless the whole tournament is postponed and re-organised afresh, thereby guarateeing them value for their money.
“The opponents have pulled out in the following bouts:
“1. Mzonke Fana vs Jack Asis (Australia) for WBA Super Feather weight Championship Eliminator: Asis pulled out after disagreement between his camp and the promoter.
“2. Noni Tenge vs Julie Tshabalala for WBA Interim Female Welter weight title: Tshabalala pulled out citing wrist injury during training two days ago
“3. Mfusi Maxayi vs Toto Helebe for WBF Intercontinental Bantam weight title: Mfusi Maxayi pulled out, just disappeared from the camp.
“4. Takalani Ndlovu vs Aphiwe Mboyiya for WBA Pan African Feather weight title: Mboyiya pulled out, citing ankle injury suffered during road work training.
“The above situation left my sponsors with no option but to request postponement as their money will not guarantee them returns on their investments. After a lengthy discussion between the promoter and the sponsors we resolved to postpone the whole tournament to February 28, 2015 in East London, South Africa.”
Also scrapped is the fight between North Cotabato’s Rommel “Little Assassin” Asenjo and South African Sibusisu Twani.
Brico Santig, the Baguio City-based manager of Loreto, expressed disappointment over the scrapping of the fight saying that the 23-year-old champion prepared long and hard for the fight.
He also asked the South African promoter to refund Loreto’s training expenses, a request which has been forwarded to the South African promoter.
Handi has not responded to the request.
(Photo caption: Loreto pummels Indonesian Heri Amol in his last non-title fight in Davao City. Manolet Santiago)
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