A heart-broken and injured Beaven Sibanda has been forced to pull out of his fight against highly-rated Filipino boxer Joey Canoy.
Sibanda was scheduled to defend his IBF International minimumweight title against Canoy at the Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, on Saturday, 4 October. However, an Achilles injury on his left foot has forced the Harare-born Sibanda to withdraw from the fight.
“I was sparring when my Achilles snapped. I will undergo an operation soon. Can’t explain the pain I’m feeling, not the physical part, but the thought of no longer perfoming in my next scheduled tournament on the fourth,” Sibanda said.
Sibanda added: “Sorry to my fans and team for this encounter I know you were expecting to see me fight, but I will back.”
The 23-year-old Sibanda won the IBF title after he stopped Richard Garde from the Philippines in the fifth round early in July.
Sibanda is rated fifth by the WBC, ninth in the IBF ratings and is 14th in the World Boxing Organisation (WBO). He has won nine fights with three knockouts and a loss.
Owh , that’s a set back champ . Take a knee and bounce back .Wishing you a speedy recovery.