Mzonke Fana has relinquished his South African junior lightweight title to pursue an international career. Trainer Zola Koti said they had been discussing the move for almost three weeks.
”We finally agreed that we must relinquished it. BSA [Boxing SA] is aware. We informed them yesterday [Monday] in a letter. We also explained why we had opted for that route,” he said on Tuesday.
Koti, who guided Fana to registering seven defences, said his charge has clearly outgrown the local title.
Fana, who also holds the WBC international title, occupies the number-one spot in the WBC ratings.
He was supposed to face number-one contender Ali Funeka next month. Fana was ordered by BSA to do so in a letter that the champion received in August.
The ”Rose of Khayelitsha”, as Fana is affectionately known, boasts a win against Funeka, posted in July. But his victory did not go down well with Funeka’s trainer, Mzimase Mnguni, who protested bitterly that his boxer had been robbed.
Fana’s move of dumping the local belt will be viewed by many as running scared from Funeka, who could upset him, and spoil the party for Fana within the WBC.
But Koti said assumption is not always true.
”This is a pure business and career move for Fana. Mzonke has nothing more to prove against local boys, including Funeka. Seven defences tell the story and Funeka is one of those seven victims,” he said.
The mentor announced that Fana will host a Russian opponent in March next year. He said it will be the elimination bout for the WBC title.
Koti said promoter Branco Milenkovic is handling the whole matter.
Fana has an international assignment at Graceland in December, although his opponent is still unknown. It will be his fourth international assignment. — Sapa