NKOSINATHI ?Mabere? Joyi takes on Filipino Florante Condes for the IBF mini-flyweight title eliminator at East London?s Orient Theatre on June 26 in the biggest fight of his career.
The fight will be staged by Branco Sports Production (BSP) after Joyi?s promoter Siphatho Handi could not meet the requirements set out by the IBF on time.
After Handi had not complied, the IBF wanted to take the fight to purse bids but BSP came to the rescue by reaching an agreement with Condes.
Joyi, who holds the IBO mini- flyweight title, has long been considered a world-class fighter who is capable of winning a major title.
However, his handlers could not successfully steer him towards challenging for a major world title until they entered into a partnership with BSP boss Branco Milenkovic.
Joyi, who has won all his 19 bouts, with 15 stoppages, will be involved in the toughest fight of his career against the Filipino southpaw.
Condes is a former IBF champion, having won the title when he beat legendary Indonesian Muhammad Rachman in 2007 to capture the title. He lost the title in his first defence against Mexican Raul Garcia, who was awarded the crown despite getting dropped in the last round.
Since that controversial defeat, Condes has been itching to get a rematch against Garcia and the fight against Joyi offers him that opportunity as the winner will challenge the Mexican.
Nicknamed ?Little Pacquiao? due to his crippling power he packs in his punches, Condes has floored 20 of his 23 victims against just four losses. This means his clash with Joyi, who is also a heavy puncher, will unlikely see out the distance.
Handi said his camp was studying footage of Condes? fights.
?One thing I can say is that he will be Joyi?s most difficult opponent but we have already detected weaknesses in his boxing makeup,? he said.
?He tends to loop his left and that will be just perfect for Joyi.?
Milenkovic said tickets for the fight were already available at Computicket and Shoprite Checkers? outlets for R100.
He said the tickets would not be sold at the fight venue.
He added that only 800 tickets will be available for the public with the rest being reserved for guests and VIPs.
?I urge people to go and get the tickets now and not think they will get them at the door because that will not happen,? he said. – By MESULI ZIFO
