Malcom Klassen may have won his fight against Xolani Mcotheli but he will pay dearly for coming in overweight for their IBO intercontinental junior-lightweight title bout at Orient Theatre in East London last Friday.
Klassen, who first came into the weigh-in on Thursday at a whopping 60,75kg managed to squeeze his body to just 59,45kg for the 58,97kg weight limit.
Mcotheli scaled 58,70kg.
His weight advantage was evident during the fight and he over-powered “Tiger” Mcotheli as the rounds progressed until the fight was halted in the 10th round.
Klassen’s weight indiscretion drew the ire of promoter Ayanda Matiti who implored IBO Africa vice-president Len Hunt to punish the fighter.
A boxer coming in overweight is normally docked 30% of his purse.
However, Manny Fernandez, who is one of Klassen’s handlers, protested against punishing his charge, arguing that Klassen was only a few grams overweight.
And when Hunt failed to give clear guidance about the overweight punishment rule, Matiti appealed to IBO president Ed Levine.
“Yes I took the matter to Ed Levine because what Klassen did was unsportsmanlike,” Matiti confirmed. “I am getting reports that Klassen knew all along that he would be unable to fight in the junior-lightweight yet he took the fight and signed the contract.”
Levine informed Matiti that, as Klassen was overweight, the title has remained vacant.
However, regarding the punishment, Klassen would have to be docked a percentage according to Boxing SA rules.
Matiti wants Klassen to forfeit 40% of his purse believed to be
R90000.
In other developments, Klassen’s trainer Errol Saffy confirmed to the Daily Dispatch before the weigh-in that the boxer would campaign in the lightweight in future.
Klassen has just fought in the lightweight division last month, scoring a points victory over Namibian Paulos Moses to lift the IBF Intercontinental crown.
The boxer, who is renowned for his ill-discipline, which has seen him hopping from one trainer to the other as well as between promoters, was his arrogant self at the weigh-in. Asked if he was able to deal with Klassen’s behaviour, Saffy said: “You know the wayward boxers are the most talented and Klassen is no different.”
After the fight, Saffy reiterated to the Dispatch that Klassen, who is rated in the top 10 by the WBO, would pursue a title shot in the lightweight division.
“He cannot make the junior- lightweight anymore now,” he said.
Klassen is the former two-time IBF junior-lightweight champion and has had a distinguished career in 37 professional fights with just six losses mostly suffered to top-tier opposition.
Klassen to be hit in the pocket
Klassen, who first came into the weigh-in on Thursday at a whopping 60,75kg managed to squeeze his body to just 59,45kg for the 58,97kg weight limit.
Mcotheli scaled 58,70kg.
His weight advantage was evident during the fight and he over-powered “Tiger” Mcotheli as the rounds progressed until the fight was halted in the 10th round.
Klassen’s weight indiscretion drew the ire of promoter Ayanda Matiti who implored IBO Africa vice-president Len Hunt to punish the fighter.
A boxer coming in overweight is normally docked 30% of his purse.
However, Manny Fernandez, who is one of Klassen’s handlers, protested against punishing his charge, arguing that Klassen was only a few grams overweight.
And when Hunt failed to give clear guidance about the overweight punishment rule, Matiti appealed to IBO president Ed Levine.
“Yes I took the matter to Ed Levine because what Klassen did was unsportsmanlike,” Matiti confirmed. “I am getting reports that Klassen knew all along that he would be unable to fight in the junior-lightweight yet he took the fight and signed the contract.”
Levine informed Matiti that, as Klassen was overweight, the title has remained vacant.
However, regarding the punishment, Klassen would have to be docked a percentage according to Boxing SA rules.
Matiti wants Klassen to forfeit 40% of his purse believed to be
R90000.
In other developments, Klassen’s trainer Errol Saffy confirmed to the Daily Dispatch before the weigh-in that the boxer would campaign in the lightweight in future.
Klassen has just fought in the lightweight division last month, scoring a points victory over Namibian Paulos Moses to lift the IBF Intercontinental crown.
The boxer, who is renowned for his ill-discipline, which has seen him hopping from one trainer to the other as well as between promoters, was his arrogant self at the weigh-in. Asked if he was able to deal with Klassen’s behaviour, Saffy said: “You know the wayward boxers are the most talented and Klassen is no different.”
After the fight, Saffy reiterated to the Dispatch that Klassen, who is rated in the top 10 by the WBO, would pursue a title shot in the lightweight division.
“He cannot make the junior- lightweight anymore now,” he said.
Klassen is the former two-time IBF junior-lightweight champion and has had a distinguished career in 37 professional fights with just six losses mostly suffered to top-tier opposition.
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