The threat posed by three Filipino fighters who will challenge Mhikiza Myekeni, Tshepo Lefele and Jeffrey Mathebula on Friday has prompted Branco Milenkovic to take precautionary measures for his promotional company Branco Sports Production (BSP).
Myekeni will defend his WBC international flyweight crown against once-beaten Filipino bomber Benedict Suico at Wembley Arena in Johannesburg.
The show will also feature Lefele risking his WBC International mini-flyweight belt against another Filipino foe Gabriel Pumar.
Mathebula will put his WBC B-grade on the line against Filipino Mercito Gesta.
Both Pumar and Gesta are unbeaten while Suico has lost only once in 12 fights with nine of his victims unable to withstand his power.
Aware of the prospect of losing his WBC International rights in the three fights, Milenkovic decided to enter into a promotional agreement with the management of the Filipino fighters to promote them in case they become victorious.
“Yes, I will promote the Filipinos’ WBC International title defences if they win,” he said.
Milenkovic already holds six other WBC International title rights in the welterweight, featherweight, bantamweight, junior bantamweight, flyweight and mini-flyweight divisions.
The rights are vital for BSP to establish itself internationally and facilitate its fighters to challenge credible world titles such as the WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO.
Suico is considered the most dangerous of the Filipino trio.
He and Pumar are managed by Rex Wakee Salud who is also a close associate of Philippines’ celebrated fighter Manny Pacquiao.
Pacquiao is currently taking international boxing by storm after becoming the first fighter to knock out Mexican legend Erik Morales in January.
Pumar, who is yet to taste a defeat in eight fights with five knockouts, is favourite to dethrone Lefele who was lucky to win the crown from another Filipino Elmer Gejon in East London in June 2005.
The unbeaten Gesta also in eight fights is also listed as favourite to beat Mathebula in their WBC International featherweight scrap. – Sapa
