This and That

Nkosinathi Joyi won't be stripped.

Ubeaten world's best Strawweight and South Africa's top pound-for-pound fighter Nkosinathi Joyi was granted an extension by the IBF for his mandatory defense against Japanese challenger Katsunari Takayama when sponsorship arrangements fell through suddenly. It was mandated that a rematch take place by the end of November after their first encounter ended in a no-contest due to an accidental clash of heads in the third round.

Antonio Kicanga's UBC Light Heavyweight title defense scheduled for November 11th in Luanda has been pushed back to December 12th, it was reported by Angola Press. Commonwealth Super Flyweight champion Yaqub Kareem may get to defend his newly acquired belt in England before the end of the year providing prospective opponent Paul Butler gets by a warm-up bout scheduled for this month. The Nigerian, who switched base to Ghana early this year, won the vacant belt in August with a dominant showing over big punching Cobbina Johnson.

WBC Super Lightweight manadatory challenger Ajose Olusegun of Nigeria waits impatiently for his title shot at Mexican legend Erik Morales after winning his September eliminator in impressive fashion against French-Algerian Ali Chebah in his US debut. But, it is likely Morales will make a voluntary defense and then look for bigger fish rather than risk a low paying, dangerous fight against the relatively unknown Olusegun. in which case, look for the undefeated Nigerian to contest for the vacant belt sometime next year.

Joseph Kwadjo vies for WBF Super Middle belt.

Fiji-based Ghanaian Super Middleweight Joseph Kwadjo missed his flight back to Nadi from training camp in Australia but had plenty of time to catch another flight a week later for a scheduled interim WBF Super Middleweight title match on November 26th against former victim Zulfikar Joy Ali of Fiji. The Ghanaian, who left home at the end of 2008, racked up eight straight wins on the Australasian circuit culminating in a high profile 2010 victory over then world rated contender Jamie Pittman of Australia. But, Kwadjo subsequently lost his next two outings to unbeaten Australia-based Cameroonian Serge Yannick and Australian Light Heavy Blake Caparello.

Port Elizabeth Hosts National Title

Rare Treat for PE Boxing Fans

SA champion Tshepo Lefele

Boxing fans in Port Elizabeth have a rare opportunity to watch a national title bout this weekend. Tshepo Lefele makes the third defence of his SA Minimumweight title when he meets Siviwe Ntsiko at the Raymond Mhlaba Sports Centre in Motherwell on Saturday afternoon.

Lefele, whose professional record stands at 16-5, with 10 stoppage wins, has been the champion since September 2008. He won the title when he stopped Gideon Buthelezi in the sixth round. Now 31 years old, Lefele has made successful defences against... (click here for full SuperSport article)

Europe Action

New WBF Intercontinental champion Ben Nsafoah

Germany-based Ghanaian Cruiserweight, Ben Nsafoah did himself proud annexing the vacant WBF Intercontinental belt handing previously unbeaten Bjoern Blaschke his first loss in nine outings in Tuebingen, Germany two weeks ago. The win boosts Nsafoah to 14-5-2. Not so lucky was globe-trotting, US-based Malian, Cisse Salif, whose crack at the vacant WBA International Heavyweight title was thwarted by hometown refereeing in Bayern. After dropping German-based Bosnian Alexander Petkovic twice in the fourth, Salif followed up with two more knockdowns in the fifth but was inexplicably deducted points for low blows instead. The talented Malian journeyman continued the assault in the sixth dropping his man yet again, but a further legitimate body shot knockdown gave the ref an opportunity to come to the house fighter's rescue and declare Petkovic the winner by DQ from an anonymous low blow. Salif, always fighting as a last minute sub, drops to 24-18-2 while the lucky Petkovic, who just happened to be co-promoting the show, sees his stats improve to 41-4-4.

ABU champion Doudou Ngumbu

A bit of recent action in France saw former WBC International belt holder Doudou Ngumbu score a six round unanimous decision over Frenchman Adel Belhachemi last Friday in Cahors. Ngumbu, the current ABU Light Heavyweight champion advances to 27-3 while the durable Belhachemi drops to 5-7-1. On the same night in Gravelines, fellow Congolese Cruiserweight prospect Kayembre Kalenga also emerged victorious with a six round points victory over experienced Lithuanian journeyman Remigijus Ziausys (19-43-3) to remain unbeaten in eight matches.

British-based South African loser Bheki Moyo made it thirty-five straight, without a win, as UK's Phil Gill improved to 11-0-2 after four rounds of Super Welterweight action. This was Moyo's fifteenth fight in 2011 and he has amazingly failed to go the distance only once in his illustrious career. Nigerian-born Brit Ideh Ockuko dropped to 3 wins and 3 losses in Glasgow, Scotland when an accidental head butt in the seventh opened a cut on Scottish opponent Eddie Doyle causing the scheduled eight round Super Lightweight bout to go prematurely to the scorecards. Doyle advances to 8-0 with the Technical Decision win. Over in Spain, Burkinabe Welterweight Frederick Ayenebou lost his unbeaten mark in his third match by majority decision to Spaniard Antonio Redondo who improves to 3-4-1.

Duran Camp Questions Decision

US-based Ghanaian Osumanu Yahaya, aka Ossie Duran, receives short end of stick again.

This past Friday night, Middleweight Ossie Duran took on undefeated Brandon Gonzalez in the nationally televised main event on Sho Box: The New Generation. It was a good fight with both combatants fighting hard Gonzales taking a split decision. Duran’s promoter, Gulfstream Promotions, has now decided to ask the New Jersey Boxing Commission to take a look... (click here for full fightnews.com article)

Mojeed Okedara New UBC Champion

Boxer Mojeed Okedara of Osun State has won the vacant Universal Boxing Council title at the expense of his opponent Eric Kwardey of Ghana in a twelve-round bout at LTVS, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos. 

Rugged and experienced boxer Okedara emerged victorious via a knock out in the fifth round from the twelve rounds bout.

The Ghanaian dictated the pace in the first round with accurate straight jabs and effective blocking, but the second round was a departure from the first when Okedara turned the tables against Kwandy with a combination of straight jabs and heavy upper cuts that received thunderous applause from the spectators.

The taller and bigger Ghanaian succumbed to the superior fireworks of champion Okedara when he was knocked down in the second round. The third and fourth rounds were equally action-packed and exciting with both boxers exhibiting skills and tactics to the admiration of spectators.

To save Kwandy from further knocks, his coach threw in the towel in the fifth round and Okedara was declared the winner and this sent the Osun State Commissioner for Sports, Youths and Special Needs, Barrister Stephen Kola Balogun, who represented governor Rauf Aregbesola, Special Adviser to the state governor on Sports, Youth and Special Needs, Biyi Odunlade, the permanent secretary for the ministry, Olayinka Oderinde (Mrs.), Osun State Sports Council officials, representatives of the chairman, Irewole Local Government and representatives of Akire of Ikire Oba Olatunde Falabi into wide jubilation.

Speaking with journalists shortly after the victory of Okedara, Barrister Balogun assured the people of the state that sports would witness an all-round development during the time of Mr. Aregbesola. 

On the preparation of Osun State athletes for the 18th National Sports Festival tagged Lagos 2012, he revealed that preparations had commenced in earnest.

Balogun further stated that the creation of a sports ministry by governor Aregbesola was a show of his determination to move sports forward in the state. (article from The Nation Online)

Larbi-Selom For WBO Inter-Continental Title

November-18-2011 - Algiers, Algeria - Salle Harcha

12 rds Salim Larbi, France vs Isaac Tordjro Selom, Ghana (WBO Inter-Continental)
8 rds Nadjib Mohammedi, France vs Ayitey Powers, Ghana

Ndlovu Outpoints Caro On The Road

Takalani Ndlovu endured a bumpy road on route to the first defense of his Super Bantamweight belt as he outpointed Giovanni Caro in their 12 round main event Saturday evening in Colima, Mexico... (full report at boxingscene.com)

Anges Adjaho Faces Ronald Cruz Nov 19

US based Beninois Anges Adjaho

Atlantic City, NJ—Undefeated welterweight Ronald Cruz, of Bethlehem, PA, takes on steel-chinned Anges Adjaho, of Buffalo, NY, in a scheduled eight-round contest on Saturday evening, Nov. 19, at Bally’s Atlantic City.

The Cruz-Adjaho match will serve as the semifinal to the 12-round main event which features Garrett Wilson, of Philadelphia, PA, making the first defense of his United States Boxing Association (USBA) cruiserweight title against Chuck Mussachio, of Wildwood, NJ.

The 25-year-old Cruz is coming off an impressive fifth-round knockout over Chris Fernandez, of Salt Lake City, UT, on Sept. 9 at the Asylum Arena in Philadelphia, PA. Cruz was scheduled to box Adjaho that evening, but... (click here to continue at BoxingNews24.com)

Boxing Legend Tar Baby Laid to Rest

A SOMBRE atmosphere engulfed Mabvuku cemetery yesterday when scores of people braved the searing heat to bury one of Zimbabwe's legendary boxers, Jao Mohammed Afonso, who died on Friday.

A former Rhodesian light-heavyweight and then heavyweight champion, Jao Afonso, whose name in the square ring was Beira Tar Baby, died after a battle with prostrate cancer, according to members of his family. Born on August 1, 1933, Tar Baby was a household name in boxing as he had an illustrious career of 49 recorded professional fights spanning from 1959 to 1963.

One of the celebrated pugilist's sons, Misheck Mutemaringa, said his father succumbed to illness at his home along Mushongandebvu Drive in Harare's high-density suburb of Mbare. (click here for full article at The Herald Online)