Bongani Magasela

Bongani Magasela

Moruti "Baby Face" Mthalane and assistant trainer Kenny "Mr Jones" Mabunda jetted off to America yesterday leaving chief trainer Nick Durandt behind due to latter's other commitments.

Mthalane will challenge IBF and IBO flyweight belts holder Nonito "Filipino Flash" Donaire on November 1.

Their showdown will be presented by Bob Arum at Mandalay Bay, the Mecca of world boxing, in Las Vegas, USA.

Arum won the bid to stage it with R2,5 million compared to Branco Milenkovic's R2,2 million.

For the record Mthalane, the former SA and WBC International undefeated champion, will earn R850000 ($US85 000) the first ever such high purse money for a challenger especially in the small weight division.

Milenkovic, Mthalane's promoter, revealed yesterday that this clash will be broadcast by America's biggest cable network, the HBO, on pay-per-view.

Durandt, who will join Mthalane and Mabunda on Sunday, revealed that Mthalane will round up his preparations at Floyd Mayweather Junior's gym.

Mthalane earned the rights to challenge Donaire in July after defeating Australian Hussein Hussein. Their 12 rounder was presented by Branco Sports Productions at East London's Jan Smuts Stadium.

Donaire, 25, is the enormously talented boxer/fighter with incredible hand speed. He will bid for the second defence. He stopped Luis Maldonado in eight rounds in December.

Mthalane, 29, with massive power, has chalked nine straight wins since losing to Nkqubela Gwazela in 2004. Donaire has 19 wins (12 KOs) against a defeat while Mthalane has 22 victories (15 KOs) also one defeat.