Boxing | South Africa
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Moruti Mthalane has to defend his IBF flyweight title against Amnat Ruenroeng in Thailand.
Promoter Jimmy Chaichotchuang was the only participant in purse bids to stage the fight, resulting in South Africa's longest reigning international champion having to defend his belt abroad again.
The fight has to take place within 90 days. “The exact date still has to be finalised," Mthalane's trainer, Nick Durandt, said on Friday.
"I'm waiting to hear from the promoter, but I would imagine it is likely to be some time in January if there are no further complications. But whatever, we'll be ready despite all the frustrations and shenanigans."
The 35-year-old Ruenroeng is a former Asian amateur champion, who also represented his country at the Beijing Olympic Games. He is also unbeaten in 12 professional fights and is ranked sixth by the IBF.
The new arrangements follow the cancellation ofa bout that was scheduled to be held in Germany last month.
Mthalane was set to make a mandatory defence if his title against European champion Silvio Olteanu for a purse of only R85 000.
Durandt has lambasted local promoters for not bidding to stage the defence. For his last defence, Moruti earned R700 000.
"Now, after another impressive win, he has to go overseas and accept something like R120 000 to defend his title in Thailand," Durand said.
Mthalane has not fought since stopping Ricardo Nunes in the eighth round in Panama City last September. "But I have to hand it to Moruti: he has not let all the complications get him down. He has continued training diligently, like the true professional he is," the trainer said.
Ring magazine rates Mthalane the fourth best flyweight in the world. He has a professional record of 29 wins from 31 fights, including 20 inside the distance.
He has defended his title only four times in more than four years because of what Durandt regards as the reluctance of SA promoters to "make any decent offers for a boxer of his ability and stature".
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