One of the six international title fights scheduled for a tournament in Johannesburg on Friday night has been cancelled after Jeffrey Mathebula’s opponent dropped out.
The WBC International featherweight bout between Mathebula, the champion, and Philippines fighter Mercito Gesta was scrapped after Gesta failed a medical examination on Tuesday evening.
The unbeaten Gesta was apparently given a clean bill of health at the pre-medical on Monday.
Promoter Branco Milenkovic who secured Gesta as a late substitute after the withdrawal of another Filipino fighter, Warlito Paderna, said, “We are disappointed but when you stage such a big tournament you must expect hiccups here and there.
“However the tournament is still a big event. The other bouts will go ahead as planned.”
The extravaganza at the Wembley Arena in Johannesburg, dubbed “Parade of Champions,” originally featured six WBC and WBA International title fights.
Ron Jackson writes that Hawk Makepula will defend his WBC International super flyweight belt against Christophe Rodrigues in the main event. The 28-year-old Frenchman fights from the southpaw stance and has a reported record of 13-12-2 (2).
He has won only three of his last 11 fights and should not present many problems for the South African.
Unbeaten former SA flyweight champion and former WBU super flyweight champion Gabula Vabaza will defend his WBA Intercontinental super bantamweight belt against rather unknown Chilean Moises Gutierrez.
The challenger has a respectable record of only two losses in 16 fights. However, other than one fight in Argentina he has never ventured out of Chile.
Other international championship fights on the bumper bill are Vusi Malinga against Andrey Kostin from Russia for the WBC International bantamweight belt and Mhikiza Myekeni against the durable Benedict Suico of the Philippines for the WBC International flyweight championship.
Tshepo Lefele takes on another Filipino, Gabriel Pumar, in defence of his WBC International strawweight belt.
At Carnival City, Brakpan, on Thursday night, Golden Gloves promoter Rodney Berman will present a tournament as part of the Harold Volbrecht Tribute evening. Brothers Roedolf and Danie Venter as well as prospects Lefoumba Ngoma, 2-0, from the Congo (now fighting at middleweight) and lightweight Kgotla Baeti, 7-0, of Botswana will be in action.
