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MTK Global has announced that the May 14 IBF flyweight title eliminator between Jay Harris and Ricardo Sandoval is being postponed. As of this press release, there is no official word on when the new date will be, or a reason for the postponement.
Harris (18-1, 9 KO) is coming off a win over Marcel Braithwaite in October, after suffering his first professional loss to WBC flyweight belt-holder Julio Cesar Martinez in his first attempt at a world title in February 2020. Despite falling short in that fight, Harris showed that he belongs at world level, holding his own against one of the more feared punchers in the lower weight divisions.
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In a sport marked by unfairness, boxers in the lower weight classes receive the least amount of attention and money, despite delivering arguably the highest quality product boxing has to offer. This is well-worn territory though; it’s almost as cliche as complaining about the silliness of the sanctioning bodies.
But for Moruti Mthalane, it doesn’t really seem to matter. He’s remained at the 112 pound weight class for practically his entire career, never moving up to chase bigger names. This may have been detrimental in terms of global recognition, but I think there’s something to be said for finding the weight class best suited to one’s body and making it your own (the late, great Marvelous Marvin Hagler is probably the most famous example of this approach). Despite being 38-years-old practically Methuselah for 112 Mthalane hasn’t sought the greener pastures of 115, content to rely on the metabolism of a much younger man
Michael Conlan returns to action against Ionut Baluta on Friday night Photo Credit: Round N Bout Media/Queensberry Promotions
Michael Conlan is confident he will stop Ionut Baluta and says he will target a showdown with WBO Super Bantamweight champion, Stephen Fulton afterwards.
WBO number one contender, Conlan (14-0, 8 KOs) returns to action on Friday night after recovering from an ankle injury when he faces WBO #9 contender, Baluta (14-2, 3 KOs) at York Hall, on the undercard of Sunny Edwards’ IBF Flyweight world title tilt against Moruti Mthalane, live on BT Sport.
Baluta looks to secure his third Irish scalp, having beaten former world champion, TJ Doheny and 2016 Olympian, David Oliver Joyce who he stopped in three rounds in September, however the unbeaten Belfast man says he will not fall victim to the Romanian and believes he will win inside the distance.