ISAAC "The Angel" Hlatshwayo has flayed this writer for suggesting that his future as a boxer is hanging in the balance after he was stopped in the third round in Australia last week.

Hlatshwayo was stopped by unheralded Naoufel Ben Rabah for the lesser recognised IBF Australasian title on Wednesday.

"I'm still young at 33 and I have a long way to go. Please give me a chance. That was only my third defeat," said Hlatshwayo, who has 30 wins and a draw. "I got caught with a clean shot that would have floored any boxer, so it is unfair to suggest that it's over with me."

Sowetan's opinion was based on the observation that this SA and IBO lightweight and IBO champion, who beat top-name fighters like Cassius Baloyi, Phillip Ndou and Joseph Makaringe on his way up, had first struggled against a novice Nkululeko Mhlongo in his comeback fight after losing the IBF belt to Jan Zaveck. The Serbian stopped him in three rounds. Hlatshwayo's promoter, Branco Milenkovic brought him back against Mhlongo hoping that Hlatshwayo will shine.

But instead it was Mhlongo who looked good in that eight-rounder, which Hlatshwayo won under mysterious circumstances.

Rabah, 33, retired in the 11th round against Lovemore Ndou for the IBF junior welterweight title in 2007. Hlatshwayo spoke about his idol Dingaan Thobela, who lost fights against Tony Lopez, Orzubek Nazarov and Karl Taylor.

"But Dingaan came back strong to win the more credible WBC title. So, please give me similar support and surely I'll bounce back very strong," pleaded the Limpopo fighter whose skills are honed in Gauteng by Manny Fernandez.

The boxer' s new manager, Lovemore Ndou, said: "It takes one punch to change the pattern of the fight. Great fighters got knocked out but they bounce back. Isaac could be back in action against WBO No 8 contender Sam Columban next month."