Arthur Pelullo’s Banner Promotions and Rodney Berman’s Golden Gloves will present a sensational world championship fight card on Saturday, September 13, 2008, at Emperors Palace, located at 64 Jones Street in Kempton Park, South Africa. Featured fights will be televised live on Supersport.

In the main event scheduled for 12 rounds, International Boxing Federation jr. lightweight world champion Cassius Baloyi, 35-3-1 with 18 knockouts, of Johannesburg, South Africa, will defend the title against Javier Osvaldo Alvarez, 35-7-1 with 16 knockouts, of Resistencia, Argentina. 

33 year-old Baloyi is a two-time IBF jr. lightweight world champion. A 13-year pro, he won the vacant title for the first time with an eleventh-round TKO against Manuel Medina in May, 2006, and lost it in his first defense agianst Gairy St. Clair two months later. He won the title for the second time with a twelve-round majority decision against defending champion Mzonke Fana in April, 2008, and is making his first title defense since then. He is undefeated – 3-0-1 – in his four fights.

Alvarez, now 31 years old and a 10-year professional veteran, is ranked IBF No. 13 at jr. lightweight. He is a former South American and two-time WBO Latin American jr. lightweight champion. He is also a former jr. lightweight world title challenger – he fought then-champion Mzonke Fana for the IBF jr. lightweight world title in August, 2007, but was stopped in the ninth round. He has come back with one win since then.

More exciting bouts will be featured on the undercard. All bouts subject to change without notice.