Trainer Bernie Pailman has described how his fighter Koos Sibiya was left distraught when his fight was unexpectedly cancelled.

But things took a turn for the better because Sibiya has now received a surprise offer to face Ashley Dlamini for the vacant WBF Africa junior lightweight title on January 29.

This comes just a week after Sibiya learnt that his proposed SA title fight against champion Jasper Seroka, which had ALSO been scheduled for later this month, was cancelled because protocol had apparently not been followed.

Pailman said the boxer, who also works as a salesman at Pailman's motor spares shop, had reacted badly to news that his fight was off.

"He bunked work and also stopped coming to the gym," said Pailman yesterday.

"I kept telling him that things happen for a reason and I could see that I was talking to myself.

"But I understand his frustration and disappointment, having trained all along only to learn from a newspaper that the fight was no longer happening. I couldn't even claim that 10% training expense because no contract had been signed."

Said Sibiya: "I had a black Christmas, with no money for my family. But I was living in hope that I would earn my living in January when I fought Jasper.

"I was knocked out cold when [Seroka's trainer] Manny [Fernandes] issued a statement that the fight was not happening."

Fernandes said last week that they knew nothing about the proposed mandatory defence against Sibiya.