Zolisa Batyi has attributed his devastating knockout loss against KwaZulu-Natal’s Lindelani Sibisi to an ailment which befell him before the bout.
Batyi surrendered his SA featherweight title when he was bludgeoned to the canvas three times before finally being laid out with a big right hand in his bid for a fifth title defence at East London’s Orient Theatre at the weekend.
With the defeat increasing his losses to three in 13 bouts, Batyi wants a rematch against his conqueror, saying he was handicapped by diarrhoea before the bout.
Batyi’s camp insisted that he had given up the belt long before he entered the ring when he felt ill.
His trainer, Siyabulela Makala, said the upset stomach had started just before the fight, forcing him to visit the bathroom even after he had already laced up his gloves.
“We were extremely worried, but we had no choice but to soldier on even though I could see he was being dehydrated by the ailment,” he said.
Batyi, whose strong religious belief forces him to sleep at his Nxarhuni home instead of a hotel provided by the promoter, reportedly ate mielie meal porridge in the morning, which triggered the diarrhoea.
Makala said he had never allowed his boxer to eat porridge before fights as it could have adverse effects.
Despite the problem, Batyi opted to engage in body blow exchanges with knock-out specialist Sibisi, who came into the fight having knocked out eight of his 10 victims against two losses, one of which was avenged by a stoppage.
Makala admitted he had been concerned when Batyi exchanged the heavy body blows with Sibisi, fearing his situation would worsen.
“Batyi is a warrior, and his boxing is based on fighting to the bitter end,” he said.
“So, it was hard to tell him not to engage in a toe-to-toe slugfest, especially when he appeared to have success in the exchange of body blows.
“You could see Sibisi was feeling the body punches as he flinched every time Batyi connected.”
It was the third knock-down in the 10th round after being floored in the previous round when he was saved by the bell, which prompted referee Allen Matakane to immediately wave the fight over, owing to how Batyi fell.
Makala said the boxer still felt the bout should not have been stopped.
Batyi remained on the canvas after pitching face-first, sparking concern that he was seriously hurt.
“He said he had decided to remain on the canvas when he saw the fight being stopped, but I told him that gave the wrong impression that he could not get up,” he said.
Despite the loss, Batyi is refusing to move up to the junior-lightweight division for a rematch against SA champion Asanda Gingqi, who beat him on points.
“He says he wants another bite at Sibisi and is comfortable in the featherweight division.”
Batyi’s promoter, Mzi Booi, who staged the fight under his KayB Promotions, said the fight was to be the last for his charge defending the SA title.
“The fight was close going to the ninth round and we had our plans going forward, but it is up to Batyi and his management if he is still keen,” he said.
Daily Dispatch
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