Ricardo Malajika is set to face one of only two boxers who inflicted defeat on him as the International Boxing Federation (IBF) has ordered that he must face Sikho Nqothole for the number one position in the junior-bantamweight division.
Handlers of the boxers – Golden Gloves managing director Rodney Berman and Larry Wainstein from Boxing5 Promotions -have a duty to negotiate and agree to the slugfest between the two pugilists.
Malajika, the reigning International Boxing Organisation (IBO) junior-bantamweight champion, is in fourth place in the IBF ratings while Nqothole is rated four places below him.
Nqothole registered a points win over Malajika the last time they met at the Sun City Superbowl, Rustenburg, in April 2022. Malajika has since gone on to win his next nine fights including capturing the IBO flyweight and junior-bantamweight titles.
Currently, Nqothole, who is trained by Phumzile Matyhila, is co-managed by Colin Nathan and Ludumo Lamati while Manny Fernandes-trained Malajika is managed by Brian Mitchell.
Initially, the IBF had ordered that Malajika must face former world champion Kenshiro Teraji in an elimination bout, but the Japanese pulled out of the negotiations.
