Boxing Odds: Mzonke Fana vs. Cassius Baloyi

In a rematch from two years ago, Mzonke Fana and Cassius Baloyi will hook up in the ring to fight for the vacant IBF-junior lightweight crown.

Baloyi got the better of Fana two years ago. Also known as “Mr. Shy Guy,” Baloyi enters the bout with a 37-4-1 record, including 19 victories via knockout. The 35-year-old fighter topped Fana in a 12-round split decision when they met in April 2008. Baloyi defended his title just once, though, before falling to Malcolm Klassen in a seventh-round TKO. Since then, Baloyi earned a unanimous decision over Roberto David Arrieta. In the meantime, the junior lightweight belt has become vacated (Klassen lost it to Roberto Guerrero, who vacated the title to help his wife’s battle with leukemia). Overall, Baloyi is 5-1-1 in his last six bouts.

Fana is chasing one last shot at glory. The 36-year-old fighter was essentially a nobody until 2007, when he surprised Klassen for the World Junior lightweight title in 2007. The South African brings a 27-3 record into his matchup with Baloyi, including 10 victories via knockout. Fana, also known as the Rose of Khayelitsha, has won his past two bouts; a sixth-round TKO over Jasper Seroka in his last bout and a third-round TKO against Victor Manon in August 2008. The fight before that, of course, was the loss to Baloyi. That’s the only loss Fana has suffered in his past eight fights.

Most believe Fana lost the fight in 2008 because of a slow start. Had he been more aggressive from the outset, his backers believe, Fana never would have lost the crown. Baloyi’s team is preparing for just such an approach this time around; his trainers have been touting improved footwork heading into the match.

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