May 27, 2004
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA-Branco Milenkovic, the promoter of BSP (Branco Sports Productions), proudly presents the WBC 130-pound eliminator between his boxer Mzonke Fana (21-2, 9 KOs) and Randy Suico (21-0, 18 KOs) from Philippines at the Orland Community Hall in Soweto, South Africa, tomorrow (Friday). It is a sensational confrontation of the WBC international champ Fana and the OPBF ruler Suico in a quest for the right as the official challenger against the current champ Erik Morales. Today the weigh-in ceremony took place at the South African commission in Johannesburg, where Fana tipped the beam at 58.60 kg (129.25 pounds) to 58.54 kg (129 pounds) for Suico.
The WBC officials are as follows: referee John Lewis (England); judges Franco Ciminale (Italy), Thabo Spampool (South Africa) and Bruce McTavish (Philippines). The WBC supervisor is Dr. Peter N’Gatane (South Africa).
It is a very competitive encounter, as Fana is a better boxer, while Suico is a better puncher. Fana, 30, kept his South African national belt on five occasions and acquired the WBC international throne to successfully defend it three times. Suico, 24, kept his national title three times and retained the OPBF laurels twice. Fana is a busy and speedy combination puncher, while Suico a hard-puncher with killer instinct. The South African boxing fraternity is hot enough to expect tomorrow’s highly anticipated eliminator.
(5-27-04)