After he became the first boxer to inflict defeat on Beaven Sibanda on Friday evening, Siyakholwa Kuse admitted that the Zimbabwean nearly surprised him in the last two rounds of the fight.
Kuse became the new World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver mini-flyweight champion following a majority decision victory over Sibanda at the Emperor’s Palace in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni.
Two judges Francis Chirwa from Zambia (117-111) and South African Ben Ncapai (115-114) had Kuse winning the fight while Zimbabwean Gloria Dera’s score card read 114-114.
“I’m very happy to have won even though it was a difficult fight. We had prepared well and I was ready to fight. Altitude affected me as rounds progressed, especially in round 11 and 12. However, I was fit and had told myself that I was going to win the fight,” Kuse said.
By winning the fight, Kuse put himself in a very good position to challenge WBC champion Melvin Jerusalem from the Philippines.
“I’m going for the world title now as Golden Gloves boss Rodney Berman had promised before the fight,” the lad from Mdantsane said. – Monwabisi Jimlongo
