VANQUISHED Nkosinathi "Mabhere" Joyi says his conqueror, Mario Rodriguez, has agreed to give him a chance to reclaim the International Boxing Federation minimumweight title.

Mexican-born Rodriguez shook the boxing world when he dethroned Joyi via a seventh- round stoppage in Guasave, Mexico, at the weekend.

The defeat by the 23-year-old Mexican was Joyi's first since he turned professional 10 years ago.

After returning home from Mexico yesterday, Joyi said the new IBF champion had agreed to give him a rematch no later than December this year.

Joyi said: "The guy has agreed to give me a rematch and he said he does not mind coming to East London. I think he is making a big mistake because I'm going to beat him this time."

Talking about the fight, the Mdantsane native said: "I was ahead on points when the fight was stopped. I was the last to throw a punch before the stoppage. The problem was that I couldn't breathe properly because of the heat.

"There was nothing I could do despite the fact that I had him under pressure."

Joyi's trainer Lennox Mpulampula said the 29-year-old former SA, IBO and IBF champion could have done better had it not been for the Mexican weather.

"We went there to win the fight, but ended up losing it. Nkosinathi was ahead on points when the fight was stopped due to his inability to breathe. The weather was a contributing factor," Mpulampula said.

"However, we are happy that Rodriguez has agreed to give us a rematch. He even said that he would come to defend his title in East London."

Some boxing followers, including Khulile Radu, the chairman of the ratings committee at Boxing South Africa, as well Mava Malla, were at East London Airport to welcome the soft-spoken Joyi home.

Joyi has dismissed concerns about his weight problems and said the division - which has a 47.63kg limit - suits him just fine.