Filipino boxer Jayson Mama’s world title fight scrapped

MANILA, Philippines—Filipino contender Jayson Mama’s first chance for a world title against IBF World flyweight champion Moruti Mthalane was scrapped after organizers canceled the fight card.

Mama (15-0), the no.3 ranked fighter in IBF flyweight rankings, has never fought for a World title in his career and taking on Mthalane would’ve been the biggest fight of four-year career.

Boxing South Africa, however, saw that Too Promotions did not meet the basic requirements that would enable them to sanction the card.

“BSA has done everything possible to save this tournament however, on Friday, 11 December 2020 it became evident to the federation that the Promoter has failed to meet basic requirements to enable BSA to sanction and give credibility to the event,” said BSA in a Facebook statement.

“The failure by the promoter to meet basic tournament requirements has subsequently left BSA with no option but to cancel the tournament however affording the promoter the opportunity to communicate the cancellation and further manage the consequences which regrettably, the Promoter has failed to equally do so.”

Mama, as per reports, found out about the bout’s cancellation when he and his team arrived in South Africa on Friday.

The 23-year-old Mama has never fought outside of Asia with his only international bouts taking place in Macau and China.

Mthalane, who is 15 years the elder of Mama, carries a 16-fight winning streak and his last loss was against Filipino legend Nonito Donaire for the IBF World flyweight title.

The South African pugilist won the vacant IBF strap in 2018 in the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Lucas Matthysse bout in Malaysia.