After suffering his second early stoppage loss in his boxing career, Kaine ‘K9’ Fourie has been forced to move up two divisions from lightweight to welterweight.
Fourie lost to Argentine opponent Claudio Daneff via a second round stoppage during an International Boxing Organisation (IBO) Intercontinental lightweight title contest at The Galleria in Sandton, Johannesburg, on Saturday evening.
This was the second time that Fourie was stopped this year. He was knocked out in the first round by Zambian boxer Simon Ngoma at the same Sandton venue eight months ago. He, however, bounced back with wins over Oumpie Sibeko and Sifiso Hlongwane.
With him having moved up to the welterweight, his trainer Gert Strydom hopes that Fourie will have more bite now that he’s going to campaign in a new division.
“Fourie out grew the lightweight division. He’s moving up to welterweight. The big weight cuts are taking their toll on him. I’d rather fight him where he is strong,” Strydom said.
Fourie, who made his professional debut in December 2020, was on an 11-fight unbeaten run when Ngoma spoilt everything for him. And with two wins after his shock loss to Ngoma, it was thought that Fourie had overcame that defeat until he met Daneff on Saturday. – Monwabisi Jimlongo
