Mcotheli praised despite defeat

Xolani Mcotheli sobbed after his defeat by Malcolm Klassen, but the general feeling was that he had held his own against a far stronger fighter.

Mcotheli was attempting to win the vacant IBO Intercontinental junior lightweight title at Orient Theatre on Friday.

Being the underdog, his situation was not helped by the fact that Klassen came in overweight for the fight.

But the Duncan Village boxer managed to display his much-vaunted boxing skills, hitting his heavier foe with crisp punches.

Klassen relied heavily on his weight advantage and chased the lighter opponent around the ring.

Having fought in the lightweight division just last month, when he beat the experienced Namibian Paulos Moses in his own backyard, Klassen came to the fight intent on overpowering Mcotheli.

He landed power punches, but Mcotheli was able to drill him with his own blows despite fighting on the back foot.

With the fight becoming one sided as the rounds progressed, the evenly matched confrontation then took place outside the ring.

Klassen’s cornerman Manny Fernandez was heard firing verbal jabs at referee Allen Matakane for failing to warn Mcotheli for excessive holding.

The fight had to be halted while Matakane and Fernandez had a go at each other. Fernandez challenged IBO supervisor Len Hunt to register his complaint.

“Klassen was fighting both his opponent and the referee tonight,” Fernandez later said.

“I have never seen such a biased referee.

“I laid a complaint Len.”

Mcotheli’s formidable task of having to contend with a bigger opponent began to take its toll after the seventh round when he began to fade.

He fought for survival for the rest of the rounds until Klassen floored him in the tenth round, and a follow-up barrage prompted the fight stoppage just as his corner was already throwing in the towel.

Despite the defeat Mcotheli earned rave reviews from the crowd for his bold stand. With the loss being his second in 13 fights, he showed that he could develop into a star if properly guided.

Mcotheli’s promoter Ayanda Matiti, who presented the fight under his Xaba Promotions banner, was also impressed by his charge’s performance.

“To me Mcotheli showed his class in defeat and we will guide him accordingly,” Matiti said.

“He should not feel bad, but I understand that he wanted to win, hence he was disappointed with the loss.

“But I think he is being hard on himself. We will sit down with him and plot the way forward.”

Mcotheli also earned praise from Klassen’s trainer, Errol Saffy, for stretching his charge to the limit.

“That boy has talent and he will go places,” Saffy said.

“He was obviously overmatched but he will take a valuable lesson from the fight.”