Fervent efforts are being made by Nkosinathi Joyi’s camp to prevent the International Boxing Organisation (IBO) from stripping him of his mini-flyweight title — this after reports emerged that the IBO was on the verge of relieving the unbeaten East London fighter of the title for failing to defend it since winning it in November last year.
Joyi’s failure to defend the crown he sensationally won when he stopped Philippines fighter Armand de la Cruz in two rounds at Emperors Palace follows his crumbling relationship with Golden Gloves Promotion (GGP) boss Rodney Berman.
Berman announced he was terminating his contract with Joyi after the Eastern Cape government refused to bankroll the tournament he had planned to stage in East London on June 30 this year.
The tournament was to feature an IBF title eliminator between IBO junior lightweight champion Cassius Baloyi against Mexican veteran Manuel Medina, with Joyi featuring on the undercard.
Baloyi and Medina ended up fighting at Emperors Palace on July 5 with the bout ending prematurely when the two fighters accidentally clashed heads, resulting in a technical draw.
Joyi’s manager, Siphatho Handi, then accused Berman of having double standards for his fighters, arguing that other fighters in his promotion were not backed by their respective governing bodies.
In the midst of the spat, reports from IBO emerged that Joyi was to be stripped of his crown. Handi confirmed having heard the reports, but insisted no official word had been communicated with him.
”Yes, I am aware that there are such reports, but we have written to the IBO to inform them we are working on plans to stage Joyi’s title defence,” he said.
The IBO has a tendency to strip its champions without prior notice. IBO junior bantamweight champion Mbwana Matumla, a South African-based Tanzanian, woke up one morning to find himself no longer a champion without being told by the world body.
Handi said he is aiming to stage Joyi’s defence against an opponent to be named on November 9. The television date belongs to KK Promotions, which has formed a partnership with Handi to promote his fighters, including South African featherweight champion Ludumo Galada. — Sapa