Boxing In South Africa: Baloyi vs. Alvarez For IBF Title September 13

Arthur Pelullo’s Banner Promotions and Rodney Berman’s Golden Gloves will present a sensational world championship fight card on Saturday, September 13, 2008, at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, South Africa. Featured fights will be televised live on Supersport.

In the main event scheduled for 12 rounds, IBF Junior Lightweight Champion Cassius Baloyi, 35-3-1 (18), of Johannesburg, South Africa, will defend the title against Javier Osvaldo Alvarez, 35-7-1 (16), of Resistencia, Argentina.

33 year-old Baloyi, a two-time IBF Junior Lightweight Champion, won the vacant title for the first time with an eleventh round TKO against Manuel Medina in May, 2006, and lost it in his first defense against Gairy St. Clair two months later.

The 13 year pro won the belt for the second time with a twelve round majority decision against defending champion Mzonke Fana in April, 2008, and is making his first title defense.

Alvarez, now 31 years old and a 10 year professional veteran, is ranked IBF No. 13 at junior lightweight and is a former South American and two-time WBO Latin American Junior Lightweight Champion.

Alvarez is also a former junior lightweight world title challenger, having fought then-champion Mzonke Fana for the IBF title in August, 2007, but was stopped in the ninth round. He has come back with one win since.

More exciting bouts will be featured on the undercard. All bouts subject to change without notice.