Milenkovic Confident Joyi Title Fight Will Be in South Africa
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Well known “International Promoter of the Year” Branco Milenkovic is confident he will be able to stage Nkosinathi Joyi’s mandatory title fight against IBF minimum weight champion Raul “Rayito” Garcia in East London , South Africa sometime next year.
Milenkovic made the statement after the undefeated Joyi (20-0, 15 KO’s) scored a lopsided twelve round decision over former champion Florante Condes (23-5-1,20 KO’s) of the Philippines who put on a courageous performance against the bigger, taller and stronger Joyi in an IBF eliminator last Sunday, Manila Time.
Condes won the title from Indonesia ’s Muhammad Rachmann on July 7, 2007 but lost the title to Garcia by a split decision in the Mexican’s hometown of La Paz on June 14, 2008.
Milenkovic can’t push for a title fight right away since Garcia has an optional defense available.
Following his impressive victory over the gallant Condes, Joyi said Garcia (26-0-1, 16 KO’s) is an easier opponent.
In fact Joyi’s manager Siphatho Handi who had already seen the video of Garcia’s title fight against Condes was quoted by boxing writer Mesuli Zifo as s aying “Condes was a more dangerous opponent than Garcia so you can safely say Joyi has already passed the toughest hurdle.”
Joyi himself appeared extremely confident of winning the title. He noted that “although he is unbeaten Garcia does not even take a punch. I really don’t see him going the distance with me.”
Most boxing people believe that Joyi would beat Garcia even if the title fight is held in Mexico but Milenkovic who is Joyi’s new promoter said he would convince Garcia to fight in East London.
Milenkovic told Zifo “I know Garcia doesn’t want to fight outside his country solely because he has the support of his government. However, I am prepared to break my back if I have to in order to bring the fight to East London not because I think Joyi cannot win in Mexico but I want to maximize his chances of winning especially after the support I received during his fight against Condes.”
Meantime Condes is waiting to receive his purse from manager Dante Ortiz since Filipino promoter Sammy Gello-ani told Condes that it was Ortiz who collected his purse in South Africa but expressed confidence he would receive what is due him in the next couple of days.
Gello-ani has come under fire for abandoning Condes in East London and traveling to Atlantic City for the Fernando Lumacad-Jorge Arce fight even as the Games and AmusementBoard is inquiring into why Condes' trainer Joven Jimenez who was scheduled to accompany Condes was left behind.
