By Jake Donovan
What’s the best way to get what you want?
Such is the advice that the handlers of 130 lb. titlist Mzonke Fana have for Ricky Burns, who seems keen on unification at some point in the New Year.
“All Frank Warren has to do is give me a call and make the fight,” states Branco Milenkovic, whose Branco Sports Promotions represents Fana (30-4, 12KO). “He has my contact info if he wants that unification.”
A recent press release from his promoter Frank Warren quoted Burns stating that his goal was a showdown with Fana sometime this year, while looking into viable options for his ring return following the recent holiday season.
"I've asked my promoter Frank Warren to look into a unification fight later this year,” Burns states in the release. “[H]e has assured me that he's working hard to deliver one for me.”
While it’s entirely possible that Warren is hard at work in mapping out Burns’ future, with whom is he working remains the question at hand.
According to Milenkovic, it hasn’t been with him.
“It’s been going on for two months. Burns claims that he wants to fight Fana. We have never heard from Warren or anyone from Burns’ camp to fight.”
It’s not uncommon for a fighter to call out one divisional rival merely for the sake of keeping his name in headlines while promoting another fight. Fana’s handlers believe it to be the case in this particular instance.
“Fana is considered by many publications to be the best 130 lb. fighter in the world. Burns is using Fana’s name and status to try to build his own name.”
The rise to the top of the 130 lb division for both Fana and Burns came within days of each other towards the end of last summer.
Fana began his second tour as a 130 lb titlist with a 12-round points win over Cassius Baloyi in their September 1 rematch, having ended his first reign with a loss against his in-country rival two years prior.
Three days after Fana reclaimed his old belt, Burns (30-2, 7KO) joined him on the title stage, though in far more dramatic fashion. The Scot rose from an opening round knockdown to outlast previously unbeaten Rocky Martinez in what was hailed as one of the best fights and biggest upsets of the year.
Burns has since racked up his first title defense, a decisive points win over Andreas Evensen this past December.
Fana has not fought since the rematch win over Baloyi, though a rubber match be on the horizon. His countryman is slated for a title eliminator against Dominican contender Argenis Mendez later this month, with the winner slated to face Fana in a bout targeted for April.
The outcome of the aforementioned title eliminator could ultimately dictate Fana’s immediate future, although his handlers are open to a bigger fight being secured between now and then.
“Our goal is for Fana to return to the ring sometime in April,” Milenkovic states. “If we can’t secure a unification match, then of course we will look to get the mandatory challenge out of the way as early as possible.
“But if Frank Warren wants to call me with a date and terms for the fight, we can easily do that as well. (Fana) wants to fight a unification match, not talk about it.”
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com. Follow Jake on Twitter at twitter.com/JakeNDaBox or submit questions/comments to JakeNDaBox@gmail.com.
