South Africa's top-rated fighter, IBF mini-flyweight champion Nkosinathi Joyi, has received a much-needed financial lifeline from promoter Branco Milenkovic.
Despite being widely considered South Africa's top pound-for-pound fighter, Joyi has completed only three bouts in the past three years and his financial rewards have consequently been meagre for a boxer of his class and ability.
Milenkovic on Friday confirmed that Joyi had received somewhere in the vicinity of R150 000 for his successful title defence against Japan's Katsunari Takayama in East London last month.
As this was Joyi's first fight in 14 months, however, after an earlier defence against Takayama was declared a no-contest when the Japanese fighter secured an accidental head wound in the third round, Joyi's total ring earnings for the past year amounted to no more than the R150 000 he picked up from their second encounter.
“It's a shame when one of South Africa's leading professional sportsmen has so little to show for his talents,” Milenkovic said.
“So in conjunction with the Eastern Cape Gambling and Betting Board, who were one of the sponsors of the recent East London tournament, we have come up with a scheme that will result in Joyi doubling the money he received for the Takayama fight.”
Milenkovic said Joyi's prowess was frightening away prospective opponents from entering the ring with him, reducing his number of possible fights.
Recent efforts to secure for the IBF champion a money-spinning world title unification bout, Milenkovic added, had largely been thwarted with the recognised champions of other boxing associations shying away from meeting the South African.
“Boxing in South Africa generally needs more financial backing from government agencies and the private sector to again enjoy the boom periods of past years,” Milenkovic said.
In the meantime, he said top fighters were having to look to overseas contests to bolster their earnings, with an offer to Joyi for a fight in Mexico currently under consideration.
