By Ronnie Nathanielsz

The International Boxing Organization or IBO has threatened to strip South African Nkosinathi Joyi (19-0, 15 KO’s) of his minimum weight title if he pushes through with a scheduled IBF title eliminator against former world champion Florante Condes (23-4-1, 20 KO’s) of the Philippines .

The title eliminator is scheduled for June 12 in East London , South Africa . The winner of the eliminator will get a crack at champion Raul “Rayito” Garcia who won the crown from Condes by a split decision on June 14, 2008 in Garcia’s hometown of La Paz , Mexico .

Joyi’s handlers have been warned that his title would be declared vacant should he go ahead with the IBF title eliminator.

IBF Championship Committee chairman Lindsey Tucker notified the two leading available contenders last April 13 to start negotiations for the IBF elimination bout. Condes is ranked No. 3 and Joyi No. 4 by the IBF.

Garcia successfully defended his title with a 6th round TKO over Ronald Barrera (26-6-1, 16 KO’s) also in La Paz when referee Rafael Ramos called a halt at 2:26 of the sixth round because of a cut over Barrera’s right eye.

Garcia had earlier beaten Barrera in a title eliminator on February 29 last year to earn the mandatory title shot at then champion Condes.

Since winning the title Garcia, also a southpaw, defended the title twice against Jose Luis Varela winning by a twelve round unanimous decision on both occasions, the first time on September 13 last year and the second time exactly three months later on December 13.

The undefeated Joyi is a hard-hitting southpaw with a record of 15 knockouts in 19 wins, including a second round KO of Filipino Arman Dela Cruz in a battle for the vacant IBO title on November 4, 2006 and a first round knockout over Gabriel Pumar in a title defense on November 16, 2007. The IBO explained in its letter to Joyi’s handlers that IBO champions are prohibited from fighting in elimination bouts of other world organizations .

In the face of the IBO warning Super Sport claims Joyi’s promoter Siphatho Handi has said he will challenge the IBO in court if they strip his fighter of the title.

Handi argued that another South African IBO champion Silence Mabuza twice fought in IBF bantamweight eliminators but was not stripped of his title.