The trainer-manager of local boxing sensation Rofhiwa “Topis Dangerous” Maphupha, Paul “Cruel Vulture” Masindi, says he blames himself for allowing his boxer to face Siseko Teyise in an elimination title fight in East London last Sunday (30^th) when he knew Maphupha was suffering from a stomach bug.

Masindi said Maphupha started feeling dizzy and battled with stomach pains on Saturday night but felt better on Sunday morning. “In the afternoon on Sunday, he told me he was feeling weak, but he decided to honour the fight as it was earmarked as an elimination bout to face the current South African champion and the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) Intercontinental champion, Nompumelelo Tshabalala,” he said.

Masindi added that two hours before the fight, they wanted to cancel, but Maphupha asked to be given a chance to fight and get the opportunity to compete for the championship. “I agreed with him that instead of pulling out of the fight at a late stage, we had to get into the ring and slug it out,” he said.

Within the first 30 seconds of the first round, Masindi said he could see that Maphupha was not feeling well and was simply trying to evade Teyise. “Believe you me, Maphupha lost in the first round without throwing a real punch. He just stood in the corner like a punching bag. He could not move around the ring throwing telling punches. Even the referee saw that Rofhiwa was not throwing punches and stopped the fight,” he said.