DEON POTGIETER, Johannesburg | Tuesday 5.15pm.
MICHAEL Carbajal announced on Tuesday that he has had a change of heart and will not be relinquishing his World Boxing Organisation (WBO) junior flyweight world title. Instead he will make his eagerly awaited defence against Baby Jake Matlala.
Carbajal earlier stated he would relinquish his title and move up a weight division thereby pulling out of his super-fight with Matlala, which was originally set to take place in November.
Following this a bout between Matlala and number two challenger Malchor Cob Castro was set up for December 4 to determine ownership of the vacated title.
Castro will now have to take a step back as these two legends (Matlala and Carbajal) meet in a highly anticipated rematch.
Matlala caused a major upset in their first meeting when he stopped Carbajal to win the International Boxing Association junior flyweight world title.
Besides wanting to extract revenge over one of the few men ever to beat him, Carbajal also received a major cash insentive from American television giant HBO, who will be screening the bout live.
This clash promises to be the biggest ever in the division and will either take place on December 4 in the USA or in February 2000, at the official opening of the Carnival City, South Africa’s new boxing mecca.