THE shenanigans committed by Duncan Village boxer Thabo Sonjica has not only lost him his world title but he will no longer feature in a planned tournament at Monte Carlo in Monaco in October.This was revealed by Golden Gloves Promotion (GGP) publicist Brian Mitchell who was reacting after a meeting with GGP boss Rodney Berman in Johannesburg yesterday.
The GGP team was still upset with Sonjica’s lack of professionalism when he was overweight for his IBO junior-featherweight title defence against Filipino Roli Gasca at Emperors Palace at the weekend.
Sonjica first failed to turn up to the weigh-in scheduled for midday on Friday.
Several attempts to track him down proved futile until his management finally confirmed that he had decided to remain in East London to reduce the excess weight.
Berman rescheduled the weigh-in for 8pm but still the talented yet wayward Duncan Village southpaw could not make the weight.
He was summarily stripped of his IBO crown and even though the fight went ahead as planned only Gasca was eligible to claim the crown if he won.
While Berman was seething for the unprofessional behaviour of Sonjica, he did hint that he might be persuaded to give him another chance.
“For now I do not want to talk about Sonjica and his issues so we will have to wait and see.
“Remember I was doing that for his ailing promoter Mzi Mnguni who is a friend of mine,” he said.
The 25-year-old alluded to the fact the best bet for the 25-year-old Sonjica would be to move up to the junior-lightweight.
Berman had already managed to secure Sonjica a top 10 ranking by the WBC and after the latest fiasco it is yet to be seen if he will be able to keep that lofty rating.
However, plans to feature him in the Monte Carlo tournament in October where GGP will present a gigantic show yet to be confirmed has been shelved for now.
“He is definitely not fighting in Monte Carlo and although we have not decided what to do with him but the bottom line is we presented him with a great opportunity and he spat at our face,” said Mitchell.
Despite being weakened for trying to lose weight, Sonjica was still good for Gasca as he beat him on points in a rather untidy affair
No Monaco bout for embattled Sonjica
The GGP team was still upset with Sonjica’s lack of professionalism when he was overweight for his IBO junior-featherweight title defence against Filipino Roli Gasca at Emperors Palace at the weekend.
Sonjica first failed to turn up to the weigh-in scheduled for midday on Friday.
Several attempts to track him down proved futile until his management finally confirmed that he had decided to remain in East London to reduce the excess weight.
Berman rescheduled the weigh-in for 8pm but still the talented yet wayward Duncan Village southpaw could not make the weight.
He was summarily stripped of his IBO crown and even though the fight went ahead as planned only Gasca was eligible to claim the crown if he won.
While Berman was seething for the unprofessional behaviour of Sonjica, he did hint that he might be persuaded to give him another chance.
“For now I do not want to talk about Sonjica and his issues so we will have to wait and see.
“Remember I was doing that for his ailing promoter Mzi Mnguni who is a friend of mine,” he said.
The 25-year-old alluded to the fact the best bet for the 25-year-old Sonjica would be to move up to the junior-lightweight.
Berman had already managed to secure Sonjica a top 10 ranking by the WBC and after the latest fiasco it is yet to be seen if he will be able to keep that lofty rating.
However, plans to feature him in the Monte Carlo tournament in October where GGP will present a gigantic show yet to be confirmed has been shelved for now.
“He is definitely not fighting in Monte Carlo and although we have not decided what to do with him but the bottom line is we presented him with a great opportunity and he spat at our face,” said Mitchell.
Despite being weakened for trying to lose weight, Sonjica was still good for Gasca as he beat him on points in a rather untidy affair
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