MORUTI "Baby Face" Mthalane holds the IBF belt, one of the four most respected world titles, but he is not enjoying the prestige that comes with his status because he hardly fights.
"This is not helping me at all," said the boxer who is rated the fourth best pound-for-pound fighter in the flyweight division in the world.
"I wish I could change my frustrating situation and fight regularly in order to make money and save some for rainy days while still being able to provide for my family."
Mthalane, 30, from Lindelani outside KwaMashu in Durban, said he was looking after his entire family of six, including his mother, because their father died a long time ago.
"You can understand where I'm coming from," said Mthalane, the youngest in a family of boxers.
His older brother Innocent held the South African junior featherweight title many years back, while Sihle also donned the gloves. They have since called it quits.
Mthalane's last fight was on October 1, when he stopped Ricardo Nunez in eight rounds in Panama.
"The danger of fighting seldom is that skills deteriorate fast. I don't want to box for ever," Mthalane said. "I would like to quit boxing when I'm still in my right senses because this sport is very dangerous. I don't want to be forced by circumstances to box when I no longer want to. Right now I don't know when will I be back in action. I still go to the gym but honestly I'm just going through the motions."
Nick Durandt, who has honed Mthalane's skills for 10 years, said: "I'm fully behind what my fighter is saying. This man holds one of the four prestigious world titles at the moment - namely IBF, WBC, WBA and WBO - so he should be fighting at least three times a year. Moruti should be making many defences while age is still on his side otherwise he won't have anything when he retires."
Mthalane has made four defences but Durandt says three were mandatory. Two were in South Africa while the others were in Italy and Panama. The two fights that took place in South Africa were not televised and promoter Branco Milenkovic had to dig deep into his own pocket to stage them. Milenkovic has since adopted the tactic of sending his fighters abroad, although the move has backfired because some of his charges have suffered dubious decisions.
IBF belt a hollow accolade for fight-starved Mthalane
MORUTI "Baby Face" Mthalane holds the IBF belt, one of the four most respected world titles, but he is not enjoying the prestige that comes with his status because he hardly fights.
"This is not helping me at all," said the boxer who is rated the fourth best pound-for-pound fighter in the flyweight division in the world.
"I wish I could change my frustrating situation and fight regularly in order to make money and save some for rainy days while still being able to provide for my family."
Mthalane, 30, from Lindelani outside KwaMashu in Durban, said he was looking after his entire family of six, including his mother, because their father died a long time ago.
"You can understand where I'm coming from," said Mthalane, the youngest in a family of boxers.
His older brother Innocent held the South African junior featherweight title many years back, while Sihle also donned the gloves. They have since called it quits.
Mthalane's last fight was on October 1, when he stopped Ricardo Nunez in eight rounds in Panama.
"The danger of fighting seldom is that skills deteriorate fast. I don't want to box for ever," Mthalane said. "I would like to quit boxing when I'm still in my right senses because this sport is very dangerous. I don't want to be forced by circumstances to box when I no longer want to. Right now I don't know when will I be back in action. I still go to the gym but honestly I'm just going through the motions."
Nick Durandt, who has honed Mthalane's skills for 10 years, said: "I'm fully behind what my fighter is saying. This man holds one of the four prestigious world titles at the moment - namely IBF, WBC, WBA and WBO - so he should be fighting at least three times a year. Moruti should be making many defences while age is still on his side otherwise he won't have anything when he retires."
Mthalane has made four defences but Durandt says three were mandatory. Two were in South Africa while the others were in Italy and Panama. The two fights that took place in South Africa were not televised and promoter Branco Milenkovic had to dig deep into his own pocket to stage them. Milenkovic has since adopted the tactic of sending his fighters abroad, although the move has backfired because some of his charges have suffered dubious decisions.
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