Ramoni won't get a chance to show his skills

One of the most exciting local fighters has been stripped of his world title before the country could fully appreciate his skills at the highest level.

Super-bantamweight Simon Ramoni's International Boxing Organisation title has been revoked by the world body because he has not defended it since his first defence of the title a little more than a year ago.

Ramoni last put the belt on the line against Englishman Patrick Mullings - the man he beat on points to lift the vacant title in London in August 1998 - and stopped the Brit on a technical knockout in the eighth of a scheduled 12 rounds on May 27 last year.

Ramoni defended the title twice before facing Mullings. Four months after winning it, he stopped Michael Aldis on a second round TKO in Durban. He outpointed Sandor Koczak in Poland in his second defence.

Maurice Owen, the KwaZulu-Natal-based vice-chairperson of the IBO and member of the KZN and interim South African National Boxing Control Commission, regretted the action taken against the fighter.

But he partly blamed Ramoni for what happened.

"No-one has bothered to give Simon the opportunity to defend his crown.

"It does not help also if a boxer drifts from one promoter to the other or one manager to another. But I'll make everything possible to assist," said Owen.

Owen was referring to Ramoni's decision to leave Branco Milenkovic, under whose Branco Universal Enterprise he won the title, for Dan Maphalala's Platinum Gold Promotions. Ramoni later joined Rodney Berman's Golden Gloves Promotions.

Promised Owen: "I'll make everything possible for Simon to get back his title but he must be affiliated to a promoter capable of staging world title fights. My heart really goes out for him."

Milenkovic, who pleaded with the IBO to extend Ramoni's reign, said it was sad to see the champion lose his crown without a fight.

"I think they were more than fair to keep him as a champion for such a long time without defending it".

He said about two months ago trainer Harold Volbrecht told him that Ramoni had joined him. But Ramoni vanished soon thereafter.

"I don't know what happened just as I don't know why he left me," said Milenkovic.

Ramoni is believed to be back with his old mentor Bokkie Martin. Whether the two can work out a solution remains to be seen. For now though, the country is minus one world champion - and a brilliant one at that!