Funeka cries wolf yet again after fight flop

Yet another fight abroad for Mdantsane veteran Ali Funeka – and yet another loss.

As has been the norm, Funeka returned home crying, ‘I was robbed’ after going down on points to Russian Islam Dumanov in Spain last Friday.

The loss was the boxer’ s fourth in a row, having also dropped a decision to Karen Chukhadzhyan of Ukraine and after suffering a defeat in Canada prior to that.

But despite these defeats and having hit the 40 years mark, Funeka has no intentions of retiring. In this chat he tells Boxing Mecca why.

BOXING MECCA: I hear you were “robbed” last weekend Ali.

ALI FUNEKA: Yes my bra, that is what you get when you fight abroad in the backyard of your opponent. I am so used to this treatment that I am not even complaining about it.

BM: How did you lose and did you fall in any of the rounds?

AF: I lost on a split decision and we all know what that means when fighting in your opponent’s backyard. I did not get dropped to the canvas in any of the rounds.

BM: How would you describe the boxer you were fighting?

AF: He is a good boy, but his experience is not on my level. I observed while watching his video footage, that he does not like to be hit on the body. And I capitalised on that and, as the rounds progressed, he became weaker and resorted to roughhouse tactics. But fortunately, for him, the referee never warned him.

BM: How did it happen that you got to fight a Russian in Spain?

AF: The promoter is actually also from Russia but he stages his tournaments in Spain.

BM: How did you get this fight? In fact, how do you get these fights you keep getting, abroad?

AF: You know I have been in the boxing industry for a while now, so I have managed to build contacts around the world. I do not have a promoter, so I am practically managing my own career.

BM: You have a history of being as you say robbed abroad, starting when you first challenged for a world lightweight title against Nate Campbell and later Joan Guzman.

AF: That is why these decisions do not scare me anymore because like you are saying, I have been through the worst as far as these fights are concerned. What is important is to perform according to my ability.

BM: You mean you are not considering retirement at your age?

AF: Why should I, when I can still kick the butts of these youngsters? Narvaez (Omar) who fought Zolani Tete is 42 years old and I am 40, so why should I retire?

BM: You have a point there, especially as you are campaigning in a heavyweight class.

AF: Precisely. So I am still going to do this thing even if they keep robbing me.

BM: I hear the fight was contested in the junior-welterweight division, although you are a welterweight.

AF: I think it was one of their tricks to make sure that I lose. Perhaps they thought that I would not be able to make the junior-welterweight division. But instead, it was their boy who struggled to make the weight so much so that he had to strip down to make the weight.

BM: Is it better to keep losing abroad than taking fights here at home?

AF: There is no one to fight here at home so until I get an offer here I will keep fighting abroad.

BM: But you turned down a fight against Uyanda Nogogo and Thulani Mbenge.

AF: Oh no, you cannot mention Nogogo because the boy is still young. Look at what happened to him against Ndwayana (Mziwoxolo). Imagine if he was fighting me in that fight. And people forget that I helped the boy with sparring sessions ... and I know that he does not like to be hit in the body. Ndwayana could have stopped him had he pressed the action. Anyway I am not here to talk bad about the boy but just stating facts. As for Mbenge, I am ready to fight him anytime if they improve the offer.

BM: He is fighting in June and I understand that he is still looking for an opponent.

AF: Like I said, let them make it worth my while and I will be there.