Ali Funeka © Javiel Centeno

Lightweight contender Ali Funeka (32-2-2, 25KOs) is ready to get back in the mix after sitting on the shelf since his close decision loss to Nate Campbell in February. Funeka, ranked at number 3 by the IBF, is hoping to land a fight with the winner of the upcoming bout between Fernando Angulo (22-5, 14 KOs) and Yuri Romanov (21-2, 14 KOs), who are scheduled to fight for the vacant IBF title on August 1.

Funeka was also looking at the winner of Saturday's bout between Antonio DeMarco and and Anges Adjaho. The fight takes place on the undercard of Darchinyan-Agbeko in Florida.

Funeka’s manager Mzi Mnguni spoke with Mesuli Zifo of The Daily Dispatch and said at the very least he would like his fighter to land an IBF eliminator to face the Angulo-Romanov winner.

“That is what we are hoping for because our wishes of fighting for the vacant title have obviously yielded nothing," Mnguni said.

boxingscene.com