Bongani Magasela
Bongani Magasela
Phumzile "Sweet Chocolate" Matyhila will in future campaign in the junior bantamweight (52,16kg) division after he failed to make the required weight limit of 48,99kg in the junior flyweight division last week.
The former Olympian from Eastern Cape weighed in at 52,20kg and his mentor Nick Durandt said there was no point keeping him in the junior flyweight division.
"I am at peace and comfortable with the decision I made. I took the safe way out. He has got the height and power to match the junior bantamweight fighters.
"Phumzile is a good fighter who will still make strides in the junior bantamweights," said Durandt about his charge who became the first local fighter ever to lose the WBC International belt due to weight problems.
"I could see by Wednesday last week that he was not going to make the weight. This is the first time ever for this to happen to my gym in my 20-year experience, but Matyhila remains a force to be reckoned with in the future and his career is still intact."
Matyhila was to have defended his title against Filipino Alex Aroy.
Meanwhile, Vus'Umuzi "Marvelous" Malinga retained the WBC International bantamweight belt through a fifth-round stoppage of Argentinian Sergio Caruso.
It was his 10th stoppage in 17 wins and two defeats.
Mtyhila is too heavy for a fly
Bongani Magasela
Bongani Magasela
Phumzile "Sweet Chocolate" Matyhila will in future campaign in the junior bantamweight (52,16kg) division after he failed to make the required weight limit of 48,99kg in the junior flyweight division last week.
The former Olympian from Eastern Cape weighed in at 52,20kg and his mentor Nick Durandt said there was no point keeping him in the junior flyweight division.
"I am at peace and comfortable with the decision I made. I took the safe way out. He has got the height and power to match the junior bantamweight fighters.
"Phumzile is a good fighter who will still make strides in the junior bantamweights," said Durandt about his charge who became the first local fighter ever to lose the WBC International belt due to weight problems.
"I could see by Wednesday last week that he was not going to make the weight. This is the first time ever for this to happen to my gym in my 20-year experience, but Matyhila remains a force to be reckoned with in the future and his career is still intact."
Matyhila was to have defended his title against Filipino Alex Aroy.
Meanwhile, Vus'Umuzi "Marvelous" Malinga retained the WBC International bantamweight belt through a fifth-round stoppage of Argentinian Sergio Caruso.
It was his 10th stoppage in 17 wins and two defeats.
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