This content is protected World-rated American lightweight Zahir Z-Man Raheem who has a big win over Mexican legend Erik El Terrible Morales in his record of 29-2 with 17 knockouts is acting like a prima-donna prior to his July 5 IBF title eliminator against South Africas Ali Rush Hour Funeka at the Jan Smuts Stadium in East London. Well known boxing promoter Branco Milenkovic informed Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today that Raheem went ahead and booked his own hotel accommodation and made his own travel arrangements. Raheem who is scheduled to arrive in South Africa on Sunday with a seven man entourage reportedly snubbed the accommodation arranged by Milenkovic and instead booked himself into a top hotel in East London. It was also reported that the handlers of Funeka who is ranked No. 5 by the IBF while Raheem is one rung higher at No.4 was seething with anger over the officials appointed by the IBF for the title eliminator. Named as the third man in the ring was American Ernie Sharif while the fight supervisor is another American Aaron Kizer while one of the judges chosen is New Jersey born Steve Walsfelt. The two other judges are Dave Parris from Britain and South African Alfred Buqwana. Funekas manager Mzi Mnguni said it is obvious that American officials will favor Raheem and I do not know how the promoter can allow this to happen. However, in fairness to Milenkovic he apparently pleaded with the IBF to make some changes but to no avail. In the supporting main event of a blockbuster card pulled off by Milenkovic with substantial support from the Eastern Cape government South African flyweight Muruti Mthalane will clash with Australian Hussein Hussein whose title fight against reigning IBF champion Nonito The Filipino Flash Donaire which was scheduled to take place in Dubai last April was cancelled. Source
Take this article with a grain of salt. You realize that Raheem, according to that article, is paying out of pocket for his accommodations. Could it have occurred to you that the original accommodations were garbage? Also, Ronnie Nathanielsz is a worm. If you would like me to explain I can do it later, but one of the MANY things he did was write incendiary articles against Freddie Roach when Pacquiao had the sense to leave RN's good buddy Murad Muhammad, who was pimping MP out just like he tried to do to RJJ.
Sounds to me like Nathanielsz has a friendly relationship with Milenkovic if he's gonna write an article like that.
This is not uncommon at all when fighting overseas, and for numerous reasons. You want to book your own airline tickets, to give yourself the best arrangements, and not have the other promoter bounce you all over the place, with 8 hour layovers, and other crap, so they can save 50 cents on the tickets (or just to give you fatigue). And if Nate ever fights overseas again, I will not only book all his travel myself, but I'll book his hotel rooms myself too, and nobody will know where we are staying. That keeps the other side from pulling any crap at the hotel, people knocking at the door at 2am and some of the other nonsense that does occur in those situations. Raheem is doing the right thing here...........
Whats your take on Nate-Raheem fight? Would be interesting and I cant wait for Guzman-Campbell, definitely one of the most intriguing matches this year and very ballsy of Nate for taking it.
Well, if Raheem wins this eliminator, then sometime next year we will have to deal with him in Nate's IBF mando. Raheem has good enough skills, but I just don't think he hits anywhere near hard enough to deal with Nate. I would see the fight going the way most of Nates fights at 135 have gone. 4 or 5 rounds of Nate ripping to the body, and then he takes it upstairs. Rahemm might have good enough whiskers to go the distance, but I would predict that Nate would get him out of there around 8 or 9. The obvious downside is that the fight would be for short, short, short money. It would suprise me if HBO or Showtime showed any interest at all in the fight......... And as for Nate taking the Guzman fight, I wouldn't so much say it's "ballsy". It's just who Nate is. When he says he'll fight ANYONE, it's not just chin music. He means ANYONE.
Raheem has an awkward style... This would be intriguing because both guys have been on the wrong side of decisions.... I think Showtime would get this.... If not........ DONKINGTV.COM or whatever that site is... It goes the distance... I dont blame Zahir for doin what he did... After the Erik Morales situation, I would do the same thing.. Also, he's going to a country he probably never been 2, the fighter's backyard, so he wants to be as comfortable as he can... And also, why is anyone complainin about it when Zahir is payin for all those things out of his pocket... ALSO, dont complain about officiating... American judges havent been all that kind to Zahir...
when fighting overseas..you watch your back which includes the eating accomodations and your own personal security. Kidnapping and Robbery would be rampant. I just hope Raheem hired somebody like Blackwater and he brings his own personal chef.
Acting like a prima donna? LOL...this scumbag promoter probably offered him a roach infested hotel. Now Z-man has to pay money out of his own pocket for his hotel etc. I'll be cheering for Raheem. :good
This is South Africa... If they'll murder perhaps one of the greatest voices and musicians of South Africa in Lucky Dube, then they will not hesistate to do the same to Zahir... Gotta be careful... I'm rootin for him 2... Make PA proud...
if a win is stolen from the local guy, then i think that would be karma. south african promoters have stolen a lot of fights from visitors.
