Boxing: Masoe in line for title bout

By PETER JESSUP

Aucklander Maselino Masoe may be boxing for the WBA world middleweight title early in the New Year, and there is a chance the fight will be in Auckland.

The WBA has ordered a bout between its European champion, Evans "The African Warrior" Ashira, and Pan Asian champ Masoe to sort out its rankings.

Ashira is signed with the wire-haired one, Don King, to finance the fight, with local promoter Mike Edwards holding some cards after lobbying at the WBA's convention in Bali this year to get agreement on the mandatory challenger position.

Undisputed middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins beat William Joppy on a King card at the weekend, throwing Joppy down the WBA's listings and elevating Masoe and Ashira.

The two are similar fighters, with extensive amateur records. Both are also almost at the last-chance stage in their careers. Masoe is 25-2-0 as a pro (23 KOs) after three times representing American Samoa at the Olympics.

Ashira is 23-0 (13 KOs) after 100 fights as an amateur for 15 losses.

Born in Nairobi, Kenya, Ashira turns 34 on December 28 while Masoe is 37. The Aucklander, at 1.72m, has a slight height advantage.

Edwards is confident his man is up to it despite his age. "He's a good trainer, he's focused and once the deal is settled we want to get him off work [as a welder] and into fulltime preparation with some decent sparring partners."

Ashira is based in Denmark and wants to fight in Copenhagen. King has pressed for Atlantic City or Las Vegas.

Ashira is ranked in the top 10 by all organisations, while only the WBA has Masoe higher, at four, one above the Kenyan.

"We're negotiating hard with Don King for the fight to be in Auckland, but it's like David and Goliath," Edwards said.

But King has shown interest in a local promotion and apparently WBA head Gilberto Mendoza, from Venezuela, is keen for the sport to get some recognition in this part of the world.

Edwards has other well-ranked PABA fighters, lightweight Santos Pakau, cruiserweight Mohammed Azzaoui and light-heavyweight Paul Murdoch to make up a serious undercard if the fight is staged in Auckland.

Television deals will determine where the fight is held, and it should be before March.