Anyone who thought that world champion Phumelela ‘The Truth’ Cafu would face off against Kosei Tanaka in a rematch must think again because the fight is not going to happen anytime soon.
This was confirmed by the reigning World Boxing Organisation (WBO) champion’s trainer and manager Colin ‘Nomakanjani’ Nathan from NO DOUBT Management.
Cafu, a former South African junior-bantamweight champion from Duncan Village in East London, Eastern Cape, dethroned Tanaka via a split decision in Tokyo, Japan, almost two months ago.
“Tanaka still wants a rematch, but didn’t want it straight away. He wanted to take a rest after the fight as it had been hectic for him. This means that it might take a long time before he gets a rematch,” Nathan said.
Cafu became only the second boxer to defeat the 29-year-old former WBO minimumweight, junior-flyweight, flyweight and junior-bantamweight titlist. Tanaka lost to his compatriot Kazuto Ioka in a WBO junior-bantamweight title contest in December 2020.
Cafu, meanwhile, is back in Johannesburg after spending some time in East London. And he’s already in possession of his prized WBO belt, which was sent to him by the Puerto Rico-based organisation last month. – Monwabisi Jimlongo
