Sport

Exciting bill at Wembley fight night

November 13, 2009 Edition 1

One of the biggest boxing tournaments in South Africa will take place at Wembley Arena on November 20 when a world title fight, two continental championships, an international bout and a South African title clash will be on the card.

The boxing extravaganza will be headlined by Moruti Mthalane, vying for the vacant IBF flyweight title against Mexican Julio Cesar Miranda.

The title was relinquished by Filipino Nonito Donaire early this year when he refused to grant Mthalane a rematch after their last clash in November in Las Vegas, where Donaire scored a sixth-round stoppage victory.

The bout was stopped due to a cut suffered by Mthalane.

On reviewing the fight, the IBF ordered a rematch, but Donaire objected and instead moved up to junior bantamweight to challenge for the WBA interim crown which he now currently holds.

Mthalane was then mandated to face Miranda, who had won an elimination bout via a first-round knockout victory over compatriot Eric Ortiz in Mexico in July this year.

Besides the Mthalane- Miranda title clash, the tour- nament will see several fighters returning to the ring after long spells of inactivity.

One such fighter is Zolani Tete, who will finally make his long-awaited debut under promoter Branco Milenkovic against Tanzanian Anthony Matthias for the vacant WBO African flyweight title.

Tete, a former WBF flyweight champion who relinquished his crown to pursue more credible world titles, is unbeaten in 11 bouts with 10 stoppages and is considered the brightest boxing star in the country.

Matthias will come with a wealth of experience, having fought 39 times with 24 victories, 13 losses and two draws.

Another continental championship will involve Michael Schultz and Tanzanian Tineyo Maridzo battling for the WBO African interim super middleweight crown.

Then rivals Klaas Mboyane and Cleutus Mbele will engage in a rematch of their July bout, but this time Mboyane's SA bantamweight title will be on the line.

Mboyane scored a fourth-round stoppage victory over Mbele for the Gauteng title. However, their bout was marred by controversy when it was later discovered that there was a discrepancy in the size of their gloves.

After that, Mboyane went on to score an inspiring 11th-round knockout over Nkqubela Gwazela for the SA crown.

Forgotten world title contender Jeffrey Mathebula will make a ring return against Tanzanian Rashid Ally in a junior featherweight bout. - Sapa