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baloyi-klassen 'not on cards'

Bongani Magasela

Bongani Magasela

Cassius Baloyi and Malcolm Klassen will never fight each other as long as I live, vowed their mentor Nick Durandt on Saturday after Baloyi's stunning third round stoppage win over Javier Oswaldo Alvarez.

That was Baloyi's first defence of the IBF junior lightweight belt he won in April from Mzonke Fana. Klassen is the number one contender. He earned that spot last month after his second round stoppage win over Manuel Medina.

"The fight between Cassius and Klassen will not happen. They are both my fighters and I don't think they want to fight each other.

"I want super fights for Cassius. My message to promoter Rodney Berman, bring on those best name fighters. If you cannot do it, I will go out and do it. As for the Klassen fight, forget it. If Malcolm wants to fight Cassius, then he must leave me."

Baloyi, six-time world champion, showed his greatness as a pugilist on Saturday night, thrilling fans at the Emperors Palace's Centre Court.

His five-star performance proved one thing - that experience cannot be bought. He used his usual lightning fast jab to set Alvarez up for disaster.

The Argentinian, who was slightly shorter, played into Baloyi's hands by forcing a close fight. That is where Baloyi's hand speed and accuracy paid off in the second round. He left Alvarez counting the stars twice in that round.

Brutality continued in three. Alvarez bobbed in an attempt to evade one of Baloyi's stabbing jabs but was met by a well-aimed right uppercut to the jaw. He went down, got up but was visibly hurt and American referee Sparkle Lee intervened 28 seconds into the round.

That was Baloyi's 19th short route win and his 36th victory against three defeats while Alvarez suffered his seventh loss against 35 wins (16 KOs).

Earlier Isaac Chilembe claimed the vacant ABU super middleweight title in a unanimous points win over Charles Adamu.

Other results: Ilunga Mkabu beat Elvis Moyo (tko 1); Jason Kinnear bt Albert Mudau (tko 3); Owethu Mbira bt Edward Khwezi (tko 3); Thomas Oosthuizen bt Mzukiseni Legesi (tko 1); and Hekkie Budler bt Dalisizwe Komani (tko 4).

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