Having debuted way back in early 1993 Cassius “Mr Shy Guy” Baloyi has enjoyed a hugely successful career. Over the past 18 years, he’s collected fringe world titles with the WBU at 122, 126 & 130 before he finally got his chance to win a major world title in 2006 when he claimed the IBF Super Featherweight crown beating old war horse Manuel Medina. The title joy didn’t last long as he shockingly lost the title to Gairy St Clair in his first defence just two months latter. While some fighters would of moved up in weight, looked at other avenue’s to win a world title Baloyi stuck to his guns and was active, 2 fights later he fought St Clair again this time in an IBF 130 title eliminator as St Clair had also lost the crown. Baloyi dually out boxed St Clair and then beat countryman an IBF Champion Mzonke Fana to reclaim his old crown. After one title defence he lost the crown a year later to another South African, Malcolm Klassen in April 2009. Since then he has managed to beat Roberto Arrieta before he fought and lost to Fana for the Vacant IBF title. This Saturday he fights young Dominican Republic boxer puncher Argenis Mendez 17-1(9) at home in South Africa in an eliminator. It’s fair to say that the IBF title has had it’s share of owners over the past few years but it says a lot about it that Baloyi keeps coming back to try to win it. Currently the Johannesburg native is 36 years old and sports a 37-5-1(19) ledger.

Hello Cassius, welcome to 15rounds.com

Anson Wainwright – Firstly you will be fighting Argenis Mendez on 29 January, what are your thoughts on that fight and what do you think of Mendez?

Cassius Baloyi – Mendez is good young, aggressive up and coming fighter, but he never fought the same quality boxers I fought. It will possibly be my last opportunity to challenge for the IBF World title. As you know, I’ve been two times IBF world Champion in this division, and I will have to do my best comes 29 January at Carnival City.

Anson Wainwright – If you win you will be mandatory challenger to fight your fellow South African Mzonke Fana for the IBF title. Does this add to the motivation for you?

Cassius Baloyi – With out doubt. I fought Fana twice. First time I totally outclassed Fana, but last time I just wasn’t my self. This third fight will set the record straight for both of us, and I’m looking forward to it.

Anson Wainwright – Who is part of team Baloyi, who is your manager, trainer & promoter? Also what gym do you regularly train at?

Cassius Baloyi – I’m self managed, and I have changed the trainer since my last fight. I was with Manuel Fernandez for the last two fights, but some thinks wasn’t right and now I’m with Gert Strydom. My promoter remains the same, Branco Milenkovic.

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us a bit about your boxing background from your early years ?

Cassius Baloyi – I grow up in the “boxing family”. My Dad was and is still involved with amateurs. Many of us, who have become champions in professional ranks, do come from Limpopo Province, and all of us were in amateurs with my dad. Just to mention few names which you may recall yourself: Former IBF Welterweight Champion Isaac Hlatshwayo, Former WBC World Challenger Phillip Ndou, Former IBF Challenger Jeffrey Mathebula, former IBF Jnr. Welterweight Champion Lovemore Ndou. All of us come from the same amateur gyms.

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us what Boxing has done for your life? Are you a local celebrity or do you prefer the quiet life?

Cassius Baloyi – I prefer the quiet life but with status of two times IBF Champion, there is not much privacy, as you would understand. I help a lot to charities, as I try to use my status and influence in order to assist to other who has been less fortunate.

Anson Wainwright – Also can you tell us about the impact the Soccer World Cup had on your country?

Cassius Baloyi – It was great for the country! I hope it can happen again, as have given us a lot of credibility and respect worldwide.

Anson Wainwright – What do you like to do away from Boxing? What are your hobbies & interests? What other sports do you enjoy and what teams do you like to watch?

Cassius Baloyi – Boxing is my main sport! My free time I spend with my family and my kids. However, I have opened my own executive gym. It is for business executives strictly.

Anson Wainwright – What are your thoughts on the current state of the Super Featherweight division? What do you think of the champions WBC Takahiro Aoh, WBA Takashi Uchiyama, IBF Mzonke Fana & WBO Ricky Burns?

Cassius Baloyi – I would like to fight ay of them. I was two times IBF Champion, but I would like prior of my retirement to add another belt.

Anson Wainwright – The IBF Super Featherweight division has been won by 3 South African’s including yourself. The other two being Fana & Malcolm Klassen. What can you tell us about the rivalry between you and them is it friendly or do you dislike each other?

Cassius Baloyi – It is a big rivalry as we all come from the same country. There were some very good fights among ourselves and public loves it. This is business and I try not to take thinks to a personal level.

Anson Wainwright – What goals do you still have in Boxing?

Cassius Baloyi – There are two goals I would like to achieve. To become for the third time IBF World Champion, and to unify with any of other three big organizations.

Anson Wainwright – Have you thought what you would like to do when you retire from Boxing?

Cassius Baloyi – I will stay in my executive gym to assist corporate business executives, but I would like to assist to my dad as well with the amateurs.

Anson Wainwright – Who was your hero when you were younger?

Cassius Baloyi – Not only when I was young but still today, my hero is Nelson Mandela.

Anson Wainwright – Finally do you have a message for your fans ahead of the fight with Mendez?

Cassius Baloyi – I will beat Mendez, and give to the public what they want to see – Fana vs. Baloyi 3!

Thanks for your time Cassius

Hope I will have pleasure of meeting you someday in South Africa!

Anson Wainwright

15rounds.com

Thursday Thoughts – Following on from the British domestic fights I’d like to see, I’ve come up with other fights between guys from the same country I’d be happy to watch. The first one is a guaranteed Uncivil War pitting Marcos Maidana against Lucas Matthysse. The two Argentinean’s both boast near 90%, are in there prime’s, are a similar age and have not to dissimilar records. How could you not love to see these two swing away. No way this one goes past the half way point & just for history’s sake how about it takes place at the famed Estadio Luna Park…I know Lucian Bute is Romanian & Jean Pascal is Haitian but there now both naturalised Canadian’s that’s good enough for me & put it at the Bell Centre…We may actually get Juan Manuel Marquez & Erik Morales it has been mentioned for 9 April, it would of been better 7 or 8 years ago but still these two are still two blood and guts warriors with hearts the size of the country. It’s just a shame if it happens it’ll be in Las Vegas & not The Azteca Stadium in Mexico City…Others that crossed my mind Juan Urango-Breidis Prescott, Michael Katsidis-LennyZappavigna, Any combination of Rafael Marquez, Daniel Ponce De Leon & Jhonny Gonzalez, Julio Cesar Miranda-Edgar Sosa & Giovani Segura-Ulises Solis.

If there are any fighters you would like to hear from you can contact me on elraincoat@live.co.uk

Recently Mzonke “The Rose of Khayelitsha” Fana 30-4(12) won the IBF Super Featherweight title for a second time when he beat countryman and former nemesis Cassius Baloyi. It was a rematch from 2008 when Baloyi won, this time Fana got off to a better start and won convincingly. Over the past few years the South African quartet of Fana, Baloyi & Malcolm Klassen have all taken turns in holding the IBF title. With the win over Baloyi, Fana hopes that he can fight Klassen and repeat his previous victory in what would be a big fight in South Africa. At 37 Fana is a 16 year veteran at 130 and is considered the number 1 Super Featherweight by many including The Ring magazine & Boxrec. Here’s what Fana had to say when 15rounds.com recently spoke to him.

Hello Mzonke, welcome to 15rounds.com

Thank you! Nice to talk to your reputable website for the first time!

Anson Wainwright – Congratulations on your recent win over Cassius Baloyi for the vacant IBF Super Featherweight title. What can you tell us about that fight? How happy were you with your performance?

Mzonke Fana – I was very happy about my performance. This was the second time I fought Cassius. In our first fight two years ago, somehow I started “too late” and give away first 5 rounds. On the end, I lost my IBF title on majority decision. I could not afford the same again, so I started putting pressure from the opening bell and maintain it in all 12 rounds. Cassius is great fighter. He had many fights in USA and he never lost. It is great for me to be two times IBF World Champion.

Anson Wainwright – What does the future hold for you? When can we expect to see you back in action next? Who may you be fighting?

Mzonke Fana – Well, I’m no very young and at age of 37 I need two, three big fights in order to make same money. I will be waiting on my Promoter, and possibly end of the year I should be making the first defence.

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your team who is your manager, trainer & promoter?

Mzonke Fana – My manager is Butityi Konki and trainers Vuyani Bungu and Gert Strydom. You should remember Bungu. He defended his IBF Jnr. Featherweight Title 13 times and against some very big names at that point and time. Of course, my promoter is Mr. Branco Milenkovic. I have been with Mr. Branco for the past 10 years.

Anson Wainwright – There is a rivalry between yourself and Baloyi and more recently Malcolm Klassen. What can you tell us about this rivalry? Are you all good friends or not?

Mzonke Fana – Yes, we are all good friends but this is business. I would like to fight Klassen again, whom I already have beaten for the IBF World Title. It is big local match and as he has beaten Cassius as well, this fight does make sense.

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your early years and how life first took you into Boxing?

Mzonke Fana – You are going to laugh. After I was given very bad split decision against my “homeboy” Mkhuseli Kondile for the National Title in 1997, I was so disappointed and I left the boxing for almost two years. I went to play soccer for Cape Town Ajax, and I never wanted to go back to boxing – I was very good soccer player!!

Anson Wainwright – What do you like to do away from Boxing? What are your hobbies? What can you tell us about yourself that we wouldn’t know?

Mzonke Fana – I like soccer very much and music but as a professional fighter, most of the time I spend is something what have to do with boxing.

Anson Wainwright – You’ve been a pro for 16 years, what is your proudest moment and why?

Mzonke Fana – I receive the most prestigious award – The State President Award for Sport Excellence, and this was my proudest moment. Of course, I was voted two times as a Boxer of the Year as well, and my fight against Randy Suico for WBC Mandatory eliminator was voted fight of the year.

Anson Wainwright – How popular are you in South Africa? Do you do commercials and appear on tv? The Football World Cup takes place in June what are your thoughts on that?

Mzonke Fana – I’m popular as I been around for very long time. I do charity TV commercials by making awareness of HIV for young people. HIV has been major problem in Africa.

Anson Wainwright – You fought Marco Antonio Barrera, though it didn’t go well for you can you tell us about the experience of fighting a legend & being in America?

Mzonke Fana – Yes, with out doubt was very big experience to fight legendary Barrera. I thought I could do better, but Barrera is Barrera.

Anson Wainwright – What do you think of the Super Featherweight division at the moment? WBC Vitali Tajbert, WBA Takashi Uchiyama & WBO Ricky Burns?

Mzonke Fana – I would love to fight any unification with any of those three. Maybe Vitali Tajbert would be option. I will talk to Branco about.

Anson Wainwright – Finally do you have a message for your fans?

Mzonke Fana – Keep punching and keep reading 15rounds.com!!!

Anson Wainwright – Thanks for your time “The Rose of Khayelitsha”

Mzonke Fana – The rose is blooming!!!!

Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com