Former SA junior-flyweight champion and world contender Nhlanhla Tyirha will take a big step towards his rehabilitation when he faces unbeaten Zimbabwean Ndabezinhle Phiri at East London’s Orient Theatre on August 4.
The bout will be a significant one for the Mdantsane southpaw, marking the first time he returns to the ring since suffering a career-shaking loss to unheralded Malawian journeyman George Kandulo more than a year ago.
The defeat, by a sixth-round stoppage, dashed Tyirha’s world title aspirations and dealt him a psychological blow, adding to his personal challenges.
To revive his career, Tyirha hopped from one stable to the other, including spells in Johannesburg and Western Cape boxing clubs, to no avail.
He eventually returned home to team up with renowned rehabilitation boxing club All Winners under international manager Mlandeli Tengimfene.
Shortly after Tyirha settled in at his new training home, Tengimfene whipped him back to life by cutting off several distractions, including social media activity, while limiting his interaction with the media.
He also enrolled the fighter — who had been tipped as a future world champion — in counselling sessions to ensure he nipped all the psychological effects of the loss in the bud.
“I can say Tyirha is responding well to the counselling sessions and he is getting back to his former self,” Tengimfene said.
“We now need to rehabilitate him boxing-wise by giving him a bout to fully recover from the loss.
“Tyirha is a boxer so no amount of counselling can be completed without him getting back to the ring.”
Among other recovery steps Tengimfene has mapped out for the boxer is letting him campaign at mini flyweight, though the bout against Phiri will be at catchweight.
Tyirha was once rated alongside Sivenathi Nontshinga as a rising star destined for greatness.
They were even close to a fight when they belonged to rival promoters Xaba Promotions and Rumble Africa Promotions before Tyirha’s relations with the former soured, forcing him to cross the floor.
Nontshinga has since become a two-time world champion after regaining the IBF junior-flyweight title with a 10th-round stoppage of Mexican Adrian Curiel in February to avenge his upset loss in November.
While Nontshinga continued to bask in the glory, Tyirha’s world turned upside down, bringing him closer to meltdown.
But Tengimfene is confident his charge will return to his best, underlining Tyirha’s commitment to the cause.
“One thing that is encouraging about Tyirha is his incredible work ethic.
“He is on par with Zolani [Tete who trains in the same club] and that is why it wasn’t even an issue for him to drop down to mini-fly.”
XP has dangled a carrot by proposing a clash between Tyirha and its charge, Mpumelelo Tshabalala, who holds the Mdantsane fighter’s former SA title.
Not only would the fight dominate the boxing debate, it would also help Tyirha to take a short step towards regaining his world ratings as Tshabalala commands lofty spots in world sanctioning bodies’ rankings.
But Tengimfene said: “First things first, Tyirha must get back to the ring before anything else.”
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