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Moruti “Baby Face” Mthalane says he will not rest until he regains the International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight title he got stripped of last year.
The 33-year-old fighter, who was born in KwaZulu-Natal and currently holds the International Boxing Organisation (IBO) crown, lost his IBF diadem without defending it in January last year. This after he pulled out of his mandatory defence against Thailand’s Amnat Ruenroeng, the current IBF kingpin.
A fortnight ago, Mthalane came back from 13 months of inactivity to stop Filipino fighter Renz Rosia in the ninth round to retain his IBO title at Olive Convention Centre in Durban.
“I would like to get back the IBF title next year because I have already made a mark as the IBO king,” said Mthalane.
“I lost my IBF crown without throwing a single punch and it is about time that I win it back.”
He said it would do his career good – by wearing two world crowns – by proving his worth in the flyweight division.
Baby Face had been battling to get fights during his four-year tenure as IBF kingpin.
He had won the then vacant belt in 2009 by beating Mexican Julio César Miranda on points in Johannesburg.
Mthalane last made a successful defence of his title in 2012 by beating Panamanian Ricardo Nunez on an eighth-round technical knockout at Arena Roberto Duran in Panama.
Mthalane won the IBO title – also then vacant – by outpointing Filipino Jether Oliva at Durban International Convention Centre in March last year.
He has since put his championship on the line successfully on two occasions – against Mexican Odilon Zaleta, whom he outpointed in October last year, and more recently against Rosia.
However, he said age was no longer on his side, explaining that it would be ideal to have both titles – IBO and IBF – strapped around his waist before he quits the ring in the not-too-distant future.
“Time is fast running out on me, but I feel extremely fit,” said the man who is trained by Nick Durandt.
“It would be lovely to end my career on a high with two titles,” he added.
Mthalane has suffered only two defeats in a career spanning 34 professional fights.
His promoter, Thulani Magudulela, who staged the showdown against Rosia, said his man deserved a crack at the IBF title.
“Baby Face is in a class of his own and should go for the big one. I believe it will be wonderful for him to win two belts,” said Magudulela.
The promoter said he would start negotiating soon for a shot at the IBF.
