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BIGGEST payday FOR THE HITMAN

DOLLARS GALORE: IBF world champion Cassius Baloyi. © Unknown.
DOLLARS GALORE: IBF world champion Cassius Baloyi. © Unknown.

Bongani Magasela

Bongani Magasela

Cassius "Hitman" Baloyi is the only fighter in the country to ever win six world titles in different divisions. But for some strange reason his financial status does not match his phenomenal achievements.

This well schooled pugilist from Giyani is a former World Boxing Union (WBU) super bantamweight, featherweight and two-time International Boxing Organisation (IBO) champion.

The 34-year-old Baloyi now holds the International Boxing Federation (IBF) belt.

He won it last year from Mzonke Fana and defended it against Javier Osvaldo Alvarez.

Baloyi first won the IBF belt in 2006 when he stopped Manuel Medina in the eleventh round at the Northern Quest Casino in Washington on May 31.

But he lost it two months later to Gary St Clair. Baloyi forfeited the IBO belt, which he later reclaimed via a second- round stoppage of Nazareno Gaston Ruiz on February 3 2007.

Baloyi has been a prize fighter for 16 years. He has been involved in 26 world title fights. He has won 39 fights (19 KOs), lost three and drew one.

He has fought in Florida, California, Pennsylvania, Washington, Birmingham and Glasgow.

But his "biggest purse money ever" he will earn from his defence of the IBF belt against Malcolm "The Storm" Klassen, according to his promoter Branco Milenkovic and trainer-manager Nick Durandt.

Their fight will be presented jointly by Branco Sports Production (BSP), the North West government and SABC Sport at the 4000-seater hall at the North West University in Mafikeng.

"Cas will be paid his highest purse ever," confirmed Durandt who manages both fighters. "I cannot reveal the actual figures."

Durandt added that Klassen, 29, from Toekomsrus, a former SA undefeated champion, will also be paid his biggest purse ever.

"Malcolm will be paid more money than he got when he challenged St Clair for the same IBF belt in November 2006," he said.

Baloyi's purse is rumoured to be around R900000 while Klassen, the mandatory challenger, could get R300000.

Durandt will master the corner of Baloyi while Gert Strydom will be in Klassen's corner.

Durandt will get the deserved managerial and trainer's fee of 25 percent from Baloyi as well as the 15 percent from Klassen.

Strydom will get the 10 percent usually reserved for trainers.

The fight will be televised live on Blow by Blow at 9.30pm.

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