The failure to avenge his previous defeat to Deejay Kriel has left Mdantsane boxer Xolisa Magusha devastated.
Magusha, 26, lost to Kriel in a battle for the WBC silver mini-flyweight crown at Emperors Palace at the weekend.
The fight was a rematch of their last April bout which saw Kriel escaping with a narrow points decision to hand Magusha his second defeat in 14 bouts while Kriel stretched his own resumé to 14 wins with a single loss and a draw.
After the loss Magusha went on to dethrone Siphamandla Baleni for the SA mini-flyweight diadem.
However the SA title was not at stake on Saturday even though Kriel is rated top contender for the crown.
Magusha was so confident of the win and he got off to a good start as he won the first four rounds of the fight with ease.
But Kriel regrouped and turned the tide as his straight right found the target throughout the fight.
Magusha’s trainer Ncedo Cecane says the boxer ccomplained of difficulty to breathe after round four.
“He came back to the corner and complained that his chest was painful,” said Cecane.
He, however, refused to blame the altitude for the defeat even though they arrived at the high altitude place a day before the fight.
“We stayed indoors throughout our stay in Johannesburg to avoid the altitude.”
Cecane says his fight strategy included fighting away from Kriel’s right hand while cutting off his mobility.
“We knew that Kriel would use the right hand while being mobile on his feet. We had a plan to counter all that but somehow it did not come together during the fight.”
While disappointed with the loss of his homeboy from Shilo village in Whittlesea, Cecane said the loss would present Magusha with a lesson as he grows as a fighter.
Magusha started his boxing in the remote area of Whittlesea and developed into an SA champion.
“He still has a lot to learn in this game and the loss to Kriel will come in handy as he evolves into a better boxer,” said Cecane.
Most disappointed was Magusha’s ailing promoter Mzi Mnguni who attended the fight despite being confined to a wheelchair following two massive heart attacks.
Mnguni had risked his own health by insisting to go to the fight and was ringside as his charge puffed and huffed in the championship rounds with Kriel clearly running away with the fight.
“Yes Bra Mzi was disappointed but he also understands the dynamics of the game. He encouraged Magusha not to give up but go back to the drawing board to correct those little mistakes he made,” said Cecane.
Magusha and Kriel may have a trilogy as the latter is still a mandatory challenger for Magusha’s SA title.
Cecane said he would welcome a third fight between the duo and would love it to be held in East London where his charge commands a sizeable following.
Magusha in bad space after Kriel defeat
Magusha, 26, lost to Kriel in a battle for the WBC silver mini-flyweight crown at Emperors Palace at the weekend.
The fight was a rematch of their last April bout which saw Kriel escaping with a narrow points decision to hand Magusha his second defeat in 14 bouts while Kriel stretched his own resumé to 14 wins with a single loss and a draw.
After the loss Magusha went on to dethrone Siphamandla Baleni for the SA mini-flyweight diadem.
However the SA title was not at stake on Saturday even though Kriel is rated top contender for the crown.
Magusha was so confident of the win and he got off to a good start as he won the first four rounds of the fight with ease.
But Kriel regrouped and turned the tide as his straight right found the target throughout the fight.
Magusha’s trainer Ncedo Cecane says the boxer ccomplained of difficulty to breathe after round four.
“He came back to the corner and complained that his chest was painful,” said Cecane.
He, however, refused to blame the altitude for the defeat even though they arrived at the high altitude place a day before the fight.
“We stayed indoors throughout our stay in Johannesburg to avoid the altitude.”
Cecane says his fight strategy included fighting away from Kriel’s right hand while cutting off his mobility.
“We knew that Kriel would use the right hand while being mobile on his feet. We had a plan to counter all that but somehow it did not come together during the fight.”
While disappointed with the loss of his homeboy from Shilo village in Whittlesea, Cecane said the loss would present Magusha with a lesson as he grows as a fighter.
Magusha started his boxing in the remote area of Whittlesea and developed into an SA champion.
“He still has a lot to learn in this game and the loss to Kriel will come in handy as he evolves into a better boxer,” said Cecane.
Most disappointed was Magusha’s ailing promoter Mzi Mnguni who attended the fight despite being confined to a wheelchair following two massive heart attacks.
Mnguni had risked his own health by insisting to go to the fight and was ringside as his charge puffed and huffed in the championship rounds with Kriel clearly running away with the fight.
“Yes Bra Mzi was disappointed but he also understands the dynamics of the game. He encouraged Magusha not to give up but go back to the drawing board to correct those little mistakes he made,” said Cecane.
Magusha and Kriel may have a trilogy as the latter is still a mandatory challenger for Magusha’s SA title.
Cecane said he would welcome a third fight between the duo and would love it to be held in East London where his charge commands a sizeable following.
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