Mthalane gets date with Rosia

Underrated boxer Moruti ‘‘Babyface” Mthalane will dust off the cobwebs and defend his IBO flyweight title against Filipino Renz ‘‘Jaguar” Rosia at the Olive Convention Centre in Durban next week.

Mthalane has not fought since October last year and his trainer Nick ‘‘Mthakathi” Durandt confirmed yesterday that he would return to the ring on December 12 to face Rosia, who is the WBC International champion.

‘‘The fight will be staged by Ludonga Promotions,” said Durandt.

Durandt said they had initially agreed to accept a challenge from Makazole Tete, who has been firing salvos from the sidelines trying to get Mathalane’s attention.

‘‘But we learnt that he is moving up a weight division.”

Before his last bout in October last year, Mthalane had fought on March 15 when he outpointed Rosia’s countryman Jether Oliva for the then vacant IBO strap.

The South African had vacated his IBF belt early in that month due to the unsatisfactory purse he was to earn for his mandatory defence against Thailand’s Amnat Ruenroeng.

The 32-year-old Mathalane’s skills are no longer as they used to be and he will face a 27-year-old foe who has had only 15 bouts with 12 wins. Mthalane boasts 20 knockouts from 31 wins against two losses.

Promoter Thulani Magudulela said WBA Pan-African junior-bantamweight champion Siboniso Gonya will defend against Cleutus Mbele in one of the undercard bouts.

There will be four other bouts on the bill.