Zolisa Batyi from Nxarhuni said that he was still ‘warming up’ when his fight against Jeff Magagane ended in the second round on Friday evening.
Batyi put up a great performance and stopped Magagane to win the South African featherweight title at the Ngoako Ramatlhodi Sports Complex in Seshego, Polokwane, Limpopo.
“The fight was neither easy nor difficult. I was still assessing him when he showed that he had nothing to offer,. I then finished him off,” the newly-crowned SA champion said.
This was the second time that Batyi challenged for the SA featherweight title. He lost on points to his stablemate Asanda Gingqi in his first attempt at the East London International Convention Centre (ICC) just over six months ago.
“I’m happy to have won this title because I worked very hard preparing for the fight. I sacrificed a lot including not sleeping enough while we were preparing for the fight,” Batyi remarked.
The 28-year-old Batyi has revealed that he still does not have a promoter and will now relax before thinking about his first title defence.
“Yes, I still don’t have a promoter and am not thinking about that now. I’m going to relax and get more sleep,” Batyi said.
Meanwhile, this was sweet victory for Batyi’s trainer Khangelani Jack as it was revenge for his boxer Gingqi, who lost to Magagane at the Portuguese Hall in Turffontein, Johannesburg, in September.
“I was not happy when we lost the title to Magagane. I’m now very happy that our title is back. This title belongs to our stable,” Jack said.
