Gideon ‘Hardcore’ Buthelezi’s fight against Filipino boxer Dave Apolinario three months ago was almost called off until sports massage and recovery expert Andy Mtshotshisa came to the Boipatong boxer’s rescue.
Struggling with a vastus medialis oblique (VMO) muscle injury just a few days before meeting Apolinario, Buthelezi considered pulling out of the fight. However, he was taken to Mtshotshisa, who helped him.
A VMO muscle is one of the four quadriceps muscles on the inside front of the thigh just above the knee. Its primary function is to extend the knee.
“I picked up the injury while preparing for the fight. I tried to treat it, nothing helped until I was taken to Andy, who did wonders and helped me,” Buthelezi confirmed.
The former International Boxing Organisation (IBO) junior-bantamweight champion has revealed that he had to rest for more than a month after the 23-year-old Apolinario stopped him in the first round to win the then vacant IBO flyweight title.
“I couldn’t train after my fight. I only started training a month ago,” the 36-year-old Buthelezi said.
Mtshotshisa said: “Gideon was suffering from a VMO injury just before his fight against Apolinario. He came to me seeking help and I helped him thus he was able to fight.”
