DINGAAN Thobela, current national super-middleweight champion and former two time lightweight world champion, will again attempt to win the WBF middleweight world title. Thobela unsuccessfully challenged Cornelius Carr for the same title last year. He’ll be taking on Britain’s Delroy Lesley for the now vacant title on June 16 in London. The WBF suffered a severe blow to their credibility earlier this month when South Africa’s Mike Bernardo won their version of the heavyweight world title against Dan Jerling, a fighter with a record of 1 win and 6 losses. There was no justification for that bout being called a world title bout, other than it was between two men from different countries. Although Lesley’s record stands on 22 wins, 4 losses with 14 knockouts, he’s not revered as a serious middleweight in world boxing. Thobela (39 wins, 7 losses, 2 draws, with 25 knockouts) feels that he could help add some credibility to the beleaguered sanctioning body. In truth however, he may be harming his career.
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