Plans for Azinga Fuzile to challenge for a major world title are still on track despite him not being right on top of his game this past weekend.
This was revealed by the boxer’s manager Colin Nathan who also serves as his trainer.
Fuzile forced outgunned Tanzanian Ibrahim Class to quit at the end of six rounds in their IBF Intercontinental junior-lightweight title duel at Orient Theatre on Sunday.
Fuzile was returning to the ring for the second time in two months after hi-stellar display when he forced veteran Malcolm Klassen to quit in four rounds at the same venue.
While Class managed to get three more rounds before going the same way as Klassen, he proved to be a punchbag for the entire fight and even got dropped by a straight left.
Despite the loss, Class showed his class and remarkably atoned by fighting back every time he got tagged.
He appeared to rely more on counter-punching, firing his blows when Fuzile launched an offence.
After dropping his foe, Fuzile was expected to go for the kill but Nathan cautioned against it and even shouted at this scribe while attending to the boxer in the corner that his charge would bide his time.
“I wanted Azinga to take his time and not rush for a stoppage,” Nathan later explained.
By stopping Class, Fuzile became the first boxer to stop Class in 27 bouts with the Tanzanian suffering his fifth loss.
On the other hand Fuzile continued with his impressive run of winning his past five bouts by stoppages.
Rated ninth by the IBF, the 22-year-old left-hander is now expected to jump up the ratings and boost his chances of getting a world title challenge.
“I said Azinga would go for a world title in less than 12 months and this plan is on course,” said Nathan.
“We are happy with his progress so far.”
The IBF title is held by American Tevin Farmer and this past weekend the IBF mandated an eliminator between Jono Carroll and Guillaume Frenois who fought to a draw to possibly delay matters in the division.
Carroll and Frenois are expected to go for a rematch to determine the mandatory challenger for Farmer, giving Fuzile one more bout before possibly being mandated to contest for the eliminator.
Nathan said the Duncan Village star would be kept active while improving his rating until he gets to the mandatory status. “The key is to give Azinga as much activity as possible.”
There were a few discerning voices about Fuzile’s performance against Class with expectations for him to replicate the splendid display he dished out against Klassen.
But Nathan cautioned against putting the left-hander under pressure, arguing that styles make fights.
The loss snapped an eight-fight winning streak by Class who has travelled to his opponents’ backyards.
The Tanzanian also came with a reputation of being a world champion after winning the Global Boxing Council world junior-lightweight crown beating SA boxer Koos Sibiya...