By Edward Chaykovsky

South African promoter Branco Milenkovic has confirmed that the IBF stripped Mzonke Fana of the junior lightweight title. Fana and his manager recently tried to dispute reports of the sanctioning body taking away their title. Branco is fed up with his boxer's antics, who lost the belt because he refused to go forward with a scheduled mandatory defense against Argenis Mendez. Branco told Super Sport that Fana will not be used on his June 11 card in Carnival City.

"One thing is for certain: Fana will not be on the bill. And as matters stand now he has jeopardized his entire future career," Milenkovic said. "Fana has been a real champion during his long career. But he is 38 years old and his chances of getting another shot at a world title would seem remote.

"I have worked with him and promoted his fights for more than a decade. It was always a pleasure working with him, but the Fana of late is not the same man I have known all these years. He knew the consequences of not fighting Mendez after the IBF had agreed to waive March 1 as the final date for his mandatory defence. He disregarded all my attempts to clear the way for the fight at Carnival City."