OLIVA GOES TO SOUTH AFRICA TO FACE MTHALANE

Oliva.

Jether Oliva will make his second attempt to win a world title belt this March 15 when he fights Moruti Mthalane for the vacant IBO flyweight title in Durban, South Africa. Boxing promoter and manager Jim Claude Manangquil informed philboxing that they will leave for South Africa on March 8.

?We will be with his head coach Rene Gabawa and co manager Dexter will join him. Jether Oliva trained hard and sparred 105 rounds total.? Manangquil said.

In his first world title shot three years ago, Oliva (20W-1L-2D, 10KO?s) lost to Ulises Solis in an IBF light flyweight title bout by unanimous decision. This remains the lone defeat in Oliva?s pro career. The 26 year old Oliva has previously held the WBO Oriental miniflyweight title.

Mthalane (29W-2L, 20KO?s) is known to Filipino fight fans for his tough stand against Nonito Donaire in an IBF/IBO flyweight title bout in 2008. Mthalane gave ?The Filipino Flash? a hard time inside the ring before the fight was stopped due to a cut on Mthalane?s eyelid giving Donaire a 6th round TKO win. Mtalane would eventually win the IBF title in 2010 by 5th round TKO over Zolani Tete.

Mthalane also has a win against the current IBF light flyweight champion John Riel Casimero. The South African known as "Baby Face" gave up his IBF flyweight title last January rather than defend in Thailand paving the way for Thai Amnat Ruenroeng winning the vacant IBF title against Filipino Rocky Fuentes.