RAMA, ON – With time ticking away prior to Rumble at Rama XI and the rematch between Steve Molitor (30-1, 12 KO’s) and Takalani Ndlovu (30-5, 18 KO’s, IBF #1) for the vacant IBF Junior Featherweight championship, the South African is trying to come to grips with his first fight with “The Canadian Kid.”

 

In July of 2007, Molitor made the first of five successful title defenses by battering Ndlovu from pillar-to-post in the very same Casino Rama ring that they’ll step into in a little over a month, en route to a one-sided ninth round TKO beating.

Recently, Ndlovu told The Sowetan, a South African daily, that this poor performance had nothing to do with Molitor being in peak form, but rather what he calls “shoddy treatment” he received in Canada.

In a transparent attempt to make lemonade out of a decidedly sour performance, Ndlovu claimed erroneously that the weigh-in for the first fight was abruptly moved back, when, in fact, Ontario has a long standing policy of weighing fighters in the morning of a fight, as opposed to the day before.

“The change of the date for the weigh-in at the 11th hour affected me badly,” Ndlovu told the paper. “I was ordered to go for the weigh-in on the same day of the fight. This forced me to starve myself to make the weight.”

“I’m going back there with a new promoter with renewed vigor to win it. I’m going to win this title, no doubt about it.” 

 

When told of Ndlovu’s skewed recollection of events, Allan Tremblay, President of Orion Sports Management, and Molitor’s promoter, was quick to set the record straight.

“I’m not sure what “shoddy treatment” the young man is referring to,” Tremblay said. “He was put up in a luxury hotel as per his request for the entire time he was here, and the weigh-in timings were clearly stated in his contract from day-one.”

“But, all this talk is great stuff,” Tremblay enthused.

“There’s nothing like a little controversy to stir things up.”

Molitor, however was less thrilled with Ndlovu’s recollection of events.

“Excuses are for losers. He knew the routine coming in.” Molitor said, while noticing the similarities between the original bout, and the March 27th rematch.

“Nothing has changed at all, and nothing will change. He got his head handed to him the first time, and he’ll get his head handed to him again.”

And while emotions are beginning to run high between Molitor and Ndlovu, there’s more to Rumble at Rama XI than just the mouthwatering main event.

In the evening’s co-feature, Canadian Heavyweight champion, Greg “The Steel Pole” Kielsa (11-0, 5 KO’s), of Brampton, Ontario, defends his title against Toronto’s Neven Pajkic (11-0, 5 KO’s), over 10 rounds.

And in a special added 10 round attraction, burgeoning female superstar, Ana “The Hurricane” Julaton, of the Philippines, via San Francisco, California, faces Toronto’s Lisa “Bad News” Brown for the vacant WBA Super Bantamweight world championship.

“Orion Sports Management is thrilled to be able to put on a card like this. We’ve got two world title fights, and a rare showdown between undefeated Canadian Heavyweights fighting for the national title,” Tremblay said proudly. “We just signed Ana Julaton to a two-year Canadian promotional contract, and we’re sure she’s going to turn some heads both inside and outside the ropes.”

“But we put her in tough. Lisa Brown has a track record of winning, and comes to fight every time out.”

"In addition, we are staging three scintillating undercard fights, featuring Felix Mercedes, Justin Fountain, Jason Douglas, and Stephan Boyd in top-to-bottom the best fight card we have ever put on at Casino Rama."

Rumble at Rama XI will be promoted by Orion Sports Management, in association with Casino Rama.

Tickets for Rumble at Rama XI are $125, $75, $50 and $25 and are available in-person at the Casino Rama Box Office, and at all TicketMaster locations, by calling (416) 870-8000 and online at .  Ticket prices do not include applicable taxes or service charges.