By Mesuli Zifo
IBF flyweight champion Moruti Mthalane’s title defence against Italian mandatory challenger Andrea Sarritzu initially scheduled for September 23 in Cagliari, Italy has been pushed back to October 14 at the same venue.
The South African world champion will be vying for his third world title defence against the relatively unknown Italian following successful defences against homeboy Zolani Tete and Filipino Johnriel Casmero who were both stopped in five rounds apiece last September and March respectively.
The 28-year-old champion was scheduled to oppose Sarritzu towards the end of this month but due to technical glitches promoters decided to move it to October.
Mthalane’s promoter Branco Milenkovic said the champion did not mind pushing back the date of the fight just when he was preparing to fly to Italy.
“It is a minor setback but Mthalane is not disorganised by the change of plans,” he said.
Mthalane who has lost twice in 27 bouts with one of the losses coming at the hands of current pound for pound star Nonito Donaire when he was stopped in the sixth round on cuts in an IBF flyweight title challenge, is eager to get Sarritzu out of the way in order to focus on bigger fights in the flyweight division.
Although he would be fighting at his challenger’s backyard, Mthalane is not fazed by the possible hostile crowd that will be rooting for the local boxer.
“When you are a world champion you should be able to deal with such challenges and prove yourself even in another guy’s backyard,” he said.
Nothing is known about Sarritzu besides the fact that at 35-years old with four losses and four draws in 40 fights which include a European title makes him a bit long in the tooth in the fight game.
The Italian will be going for his third world title challenge after two failed title challenges against Argentinean Omar Andres Narvaez for the WBO flyweight crown.
Ironically Sarritzu will be facing a South African fighter for the second time having beaten Job Tleru way back in 2001 when Mthalane was still a budding fighter.