Phumelele Cafu will defend his WBO junior bantamweight title in South Africa in late May. Roman Gonzalez will no longer be his opponent, as negotiations fell through. Cafu won his title from Kosei Tanaka in October, with hopes for a future fight against Gonzalez remaining if he successfully defends his title.
Phumelele Cafu is progressing with his career and preparing for his forthcoming title defense. This upcoming match, however, will not feature the legendary boxer Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez in the opposing corner. According to sources from The Ring, Cafu (11-0-3, 8 KOs) will undertake his first defense of the WBO junior bantamweight title in South Africa, slated for late May, although neither an exact date nor an opponent has yet been announced.
Initial discussions had centered on a matchup between Cafu and Gonzalez (52-4, 42 KOs), which was expected to take place in Gonzalez’s home region of Managua, Nicaragua. However, negotiations faltered, leaving Cafu without an opponent for his upcoming fight. “For whatever reason, the Chocolatito fight has not come together,” Cafu expressed via social media. “We are now moving ahead with Cafu’s first defense of his World title right here in South Africa. The date we are targeting is at the end of May.”
Cafu, currently ranked as the No. 4 junior bantamweight by The Ring, secured the WBO title following an upset victory over Kosei Tanaka (20-2, 11 KOs) in Tokyo on October 14. The results of that fight thwarted plans for a showdown between Tanaka and Gonzalez that was anticipated to occur this spring, leading Gonzalez to seek a title opportunity against Cafu. Despite the change in plans, Cafu is prepared to defend his title on familiar turf.
Notably, should Cafu successfully defend his title in May, there remains potential for a future bout with Gonzalez later in the year. Teiken Promotions has endorsed this decision, opting for Cafu to remain active in the ring while promoting the local event in collaboration with Boxing5. As of now, it remains uncertain whether Gonzalez will schedule a stay-busy fight or wait for the outcome of Cafu’s next match.
In conclusion, Phumelele Cafu is set to defend his WBO junior bantamweight title in South Africa in late May, with Roman Gonzalez not participating in the bout due to halted negotiations. Cafu, having won the title in a significant upset against Kosei Tanaka, now aims to fortify his reign with a home fight. Future prospects may still involve a contest against Gonzalez later this year, depending on the outcomes of Cafu’s defense.
Original Source: ringmagazine.com
