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.