THERE'S been more frustration for the camp of reigning IBF flyweight champion Moruti "Babyface" Mthalane after the 11th-hour cancellation of his mandatory title defence against Silvio Olteanu.

The fight, Mthalane's fifth defence of the belt he won in 2009, was to take place in Germany next Saturday, but collapsed on Friday when the Romanian-born Spaniard Olteanu apparently injured his hand in training on Thursday.

Mthalane's trainer-manager Nick Durandt was livid .

"We are blown away by this. We are highly disappointed. All these hiccups - purse bid, the postponement from September to October. Disappointment is an understatement."

Durandt said he would suggest to the IBF hierarchy to drop Olteanu from the top spot.

"He failed to make himself available for the mandatory fight," he said.

"I will ask the IBF to allow Moruti to make the voluntary defence. Everything was in order and we were ready to fly, then this happens.

"I am told this guy injured his hand in training on Thursday. What can I do?

"We can't get a replacement, bearing in mind that this fight went on purse bid and that no boxer can come in for the measly purse money we signed for."

Mthalane was to be paid a paltry amount after German outfit SES won the purse bid with R110000, the lowest in recent times for a world title fight.

The R110000 was to be shared between Mthalane and Olteanu.

Mthalane, the nuggety Joburg-based boxer from Lindelani in Durban, was to get 75%.

The reigning champion could not be reached for comment on Friday.

Durandt said: "I will do my best to make sure that Mthalane is in the ring before the end of the year."

Promoter Thulani Magudulela said that if all went according to the plans made by the KwaZulu-Natal government, Mthalane's voluntary defence would take place in Durban in December.