Branco Milenkovic waits for unexpected Don King signature
Promoter Branco Milenkovic has turned down what appears to be a no-brainer HBO fight because he would prefer to keep his fighter in the top spot for a possible junior welterweight title.
On behalf of fighter Kaizer Mabuza, Milenkovic recently turned down a proposed HBO fight and the exposure that comes with it against up-and-coming prospect Victor Ortiz on December 11.
Mabuza is rated the No.1 junior welterweight by the IBF (International Boxing Federation). A loss to Ortiz could mean him being bumped from the spot, and as a result, he would miss an opportunity to collect
the IBF title that titleholder Devon Alexander is sure to forfeit in coming months.
The IBF contacted Alexander promoter, Don King, about a mandatory bout with Mabuza recently, but King refused to comply because he had already worked out the details of a title match with WBO king Timothy
Bradley for January 29. Should Alexander go through with that bout, as many expect he will, the IBF has confirmed it will strip him of his title for failing to meet mandatory requirements. The title will thereby be awarded to Mabuza.
Milenkovic revealed that King has 48 hours to sign a contract for a title fight with Mabuza.
“I am doing things by the book here because I won the purse bids, so I expect King to submit signed contracts for his fighter Alexander to fight my boxer Mabuza as per the rule of the IBF.”
Unfortunately, there is no chance that King will sign that contract.
A fight with Mabuza would mean a much smaller purse for Alexander and King than a fight with Bradley guarantees. It would also disappoint fans the world over.
Should he be awarded the title, Mabuza will likely face the winner of the Zab Judah-Lucas Matthysse match scheduled for November 6.
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