East London boxer Asemahle Wellem will return home with his head held high despite suffering an eighth-round stoppage loss to Conor Wallace in a WBA Oceanic light-heavyweight title fight in Brisbane, Australia, on Wednesday.
Fighting in the division for the first time as he normally campaigns in the super-middleweight where he is the reigning SA champion, Wellem, from Chintsa, held his own and stole some rounds against the big, Irish-born Australian favourite.
Wallace, who is highly rated and has even signed with top British promoter Matchroom Boxing which also looks after the career of East London’s former world champion, Sivenathi Nontshinga, struggled to keep Wellem at bay as he led by a single point in two of the judges’ scorecards going to the eighth round.
The third had the house fighter ahead by five points in a bout fought at Wallace’s stamping ground of Fortitude Music Hall in Brisbane, where he is treated like a hero.
Wellem’s manager, Siya Zingelw,a said his charge had been given a standing ovation by the crowd for his gutsy showing.
“He was caught by a punch that opened a cut and Wallace capitalised on that to force a stoppage,” he said.
“However we are happy with how we performed in a foreign environment and even the crowd cheered for us.”
It was the first time the 24-year-old had suffered a loss in nine bouts with a draw he was unfairly given in Tanzania against local favourite Selamani Kidunda in March.
Wallace, 28, stretched his record to 15 wins and a loss in 16 bouts and is expected to be guided towards a world title mix.
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