Being dropped from second to fifth on the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) junior-bantamweight ratings has forced Yanga ‘Showtime’ Sigqibo’s handlers to take another route to fast-track him for a better rating in the International Boxing Federation (IBF).
The Duncan Village boxer, who is trained by Thembani Gopheni, dropped three places on the WBO ratings despite winning his last fight, which was against Jerald Paclar from the Philippines, at the Boardwalk Hotel and Casino, Gqeberha, in April this year.
“I heard that l might fight in an IBF bout. I got this from my trainer though I don’t know who’s going to fight with me. However, I know for a fact that I’m fighting next month,” Sigqibo said.
Sigqibo’s fight against the soon-to-be-announced opponent is going to be the main bout at a tournament that is scheduled for the Nangoza Jebe Hall in New Brighton, Gqeberha.
Meanwhile, Sigqibo moved down the WBO pecking order to make way for Francisco Rodriguez Junior, Donnie Nietes and Roman Gonzalez, who are all former world champions.
Rodriguez Jr from Mexico once held the WBO and IBF minimumweight titles. The Mexican challenges WBO junior-bantamweight champion Kazuto Iota from Japan on Wednesday next week.
Nietes is a former WBO minimumweight, junior-flyweight and junior-bantamweight champion. The Filipino boxer is also an erstwhile IBF flyweight titlist.
Gonzalez from Nicaragua is a former World Boxing Association (WBA) minimumweight and junior-flyweight champion. He also held the WBA and World Boxing Council (WBC) flyweight titles as well as the WBC and WBA junior-bantamweight belts.
Gonzalez challenges WBC and WBA junior-bantamweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada on 16 October. This is a rematch after Estrada beat Gonzalez by a split decision in March.
