Sheefeni Nikodemus
29 March 2011
VIKAPITA Meroro lost out on the WBC International light-heavyweight title because “he was not fighting” said his handler Nestor Tobias.
An out-of-sorts Meroro lost on points over 12 rounds (117-111, 118-112 and 119-110) to Isaac Chilemba in Johannesburg on Saturday.
According to Tobias, “Meroro was his own worst enemy” as he uncharacteristically fought “with no heart” and defied his corner’s instructions to take the fight to Chilemba.
“In boxing if you don’t throw punches then you will not win,” a disappointed Tobias told The Namibian Sport yesterday.
“He was not fighting,” he added. “His heart let him down. If you don’t box to your ability then you cannot expect to win.”
Having now suffered his second career defeat, Meroro – who is still the WBO Africa champion at light-heavyweight – will need to quickly shelve his missed opportunity if he is to deliver on his undoubted potential.
“Meroro is still young and he is a very talented boxer,” said Tobias. “This is not the end.
“I will talk to him and make him understand that he needs to be hungry to succeed.”
TYSON ROBBERY
Tobias also made no secret of his dissatisfaction to the “unfair” defeat of welterweight Betuel ‘Tyson’ Uushona by Briton Denton Vassel in their Commonwealth title bout on the same night.
Uushona lost the fight 118-111, 117-113, 117-111, which left his displeased promoter to say the result of the fight had been predetermined.
He said reliable boxing experts who attended the fight informed him that Uushona should have picked up the victory.
“That fight was controversial,” said Tobias. “The judging panel was all British and one sided. They scored the fight before it even happened. The same thing happened with (flyweight Abmerk) Shidjuu last year. Shidjuu beat up that guy (Chris Edwards) and still he lost.”
Tobias said that defeat had tainted Uushona’s record.
“This will count against him (Uushona),” said Tobias. “But this boy is strong and he will bounce back.”
AllAfrica – All the Time
Originally posted here:
Namibia: Meroro Did Not Fight – Nestor Tobias