By Mark Vester
According to manager Butityi Konki, IBF junior lightweight champion Mzonke Fana was looking to get more money for a scheduled defense against mandatory challenger Argenis Mendez. Konki's side of the story conflicts with the recent comments given to the media by Fana, who claimed that he was training himself and because of that he withdrew from the June 11 bout with Mendez. Konki is so upset with Fana's version of the story that he doesn't plan to renew his managerial and sponsorship contract when it expires at the end of the month.
"The fight has been held back simply because we do not have an agreement mainly on the purse, a point we communicated to the promoter promptly when Mzonke raised it," Konki told Sowetan Live.
Fana's promoter, Branco Milenkovic, is still claiming his boxer had no trainer, but admits the fighter never signed a contract. "How could I get Fana to sign a contract when he
Konki denied those claims, telling the paper that Fana's trainers, Vuyani Bungu and Gert Strydom, were ready and able to assist Fana, although Strydom says the matter was never discussed with him.
"I have ascertained, contrary to what has been published in the media, that both Vuyani and Gert are willing to assist and even Howard Grant from Montreal, Canada. I do not know where all these things come from," Konki said.
There has been no word on a new date for Fana-Mendez.