By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Moruti “ Baby Face” Mthalane (23-2, 16 KO’s) has promised to win the vacant IBF flyweight championship for multi-titled international promoter Branco Milenkovic who kept his promise to get the little but skilled South African fighter another shot at the world title after he had lost in his first attempt against IBF/IBO champion  Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire last November in Las Vegas .

Mthalane was cut above the right eye and  his nose was also bloodied in the Donaire clash but fight fans were not convinced that referee Joe Cortez should have stopped the fight although he did so on the instructions of the ring physician who later explained that the cut was on the inside and such injuries could be detrimental to the fighter’s eye and required an immediate stoppage.

The happy South African fighter said “Branco said I must not worry because he would get me a chance this year. He has done so.”A scheduled rematch with Donaire didn’t push through as the Filipino moved up to super flyweight and won the WBA Interim title beating Panama’s Rafael ”El Torito” Concepcion.

The IBF named No. 2 ranked Julio Cesar “Pingo”  Miranda (30-4-1-, 23 KO’s) to face No. 3 ranked Mthalane for the vacant title. Mthalane is 27 while Miranda is 29 years old.

Mthalane is coming off a 3rd round knockout of Lelohonolo Ramogole in a South African flyweight title fight last April 18.while Miranda won his last fight by a first round knockout of former WBC world light flyweight champion Eric Ortiz on July 11 this year.

The referee appointed to handle the title fight is American Robert Byrd while the judges are Alfred Bugwana and Wally Snowball of South Africa and Alejandro Lopes of Mexico.