/ 18 April 1999

BROKEN FINGER DELAYS COMBACK

A BROKEN finger has ruined plans for an IBO world middleweight title fight in South Africa between defending champion Mpush Makambi and Dingaan Thobela — and has also thwarted the comeback plans of former promoter Thinus Strydom. Makambi advised Strydom that he had broken the finger in training and would not be able to go through with a proposed May date which Strydom had negotiated with him. But the head of World Sports Promotions, inactive for the past three years after disagreements with the former national commissions, said Tuesday that he has another major plan involving Thobela in a world title bout in a different organisation.