Big clash hangs in balance

ONCE again, the highly anticipated IBO junior-featherweight title clash between reigning champion and Duncan Village boxer Thabo Sonjica and Limpopo’s Tshifhiwa Munyai hangs in the balance.

The fight is scheduled to take place at East London’s Orient Theatre in an Eyethu Promotions show on May 4.

But now Munyai has not yet signed the contract as he is in UK where he assisted British boxer Martin Ward with sparring sessions ahead of his IBF bantamweight title challenge against Stuart Hall in Newcastle last weekend.

The fight ended in a draw with Hall keeping the title he seized from Vusi Malinga early this year.

The Sonjica-Munyai bout, first suggested by the Daily Dispatch to their handlers, has been rocked by uncertainty with several promoters including top Johannesburg promoter Rodney Berman trying to organise it.

Berman was looking to stage the fight at Emperors Palace this past February but Sonjica bunked on the purse offer.

Then Munyai’s promoter Siphatho Handi of Mamali Promotions tried to promote it, scheduling it for April 26 after convincing IBO president Ed Levine to give him the opportunity.

But, Sonjica’s promoter Mzi Mnguni refused to sign the contract insisting that he would promote the fight himself.

Mnguni finally secured the May 4 date and sent the documents to Munyai to sign.

However the signed contracts have not been returned leaving Mnguni desperately trying to find replacements for the fight.

Sonjica won the title when he stopped Filipino Silvester Lopez in six rounds at Orient Theatre last July.

The Dispatch has it on good authority that the Limpopo boxer was stalling because he has been offered an opportunity to challenge unbeaten British boxing star Scott Quigg for the WBA junior-featherweight crown in Manchester on April 19.

But, speaking to the Dispatch from the UK yesterday, Munyai denied this, saying that the offer was not the reason he has not yet sent the contracts.

“I have been trying to e-mail or fax the contracts but they keep coming back to me,” he said.

Asked about the offer to face Quigg, Munyai admitted that while it was a big opportunity he was also keen on fighting Sonjica – although it is not as big as the WBA crown held by the Brit.

“Look I have always been yearning to fight Quigg because he is considered the top dog in the division but that does not mean I do not want to fight Sonjica. In fact I have signed the contract already but it keeps coming back when I try to send it.”

This has left Handi frustrated as he wants Munyai to sign the contracts for the Sonjica fight.

Handi refused to comment on the delay, saying Munyai should answer for himself.

“I have been trying to get Munyai to sign this contract but he keeps giving me excuses,” said Handi.

Mnguni has already lined up replacements in Filipinos Rey Perez and Dennis Tubieron.

This means Munyai, who is the former holder of the title, will likely be disqualified by the IBO if he does not return the signed contract immediately.

Perez, 23, has lost four times in 22 bouts while Tubieron has suffered three defeats and draw in 21 bouts.

Tubieron lost a close split decision to Mdantsane’s Lubabalo Msuthu for the WBF bantamweight title challenge at Montecasino in 2011.