WATCH: Boxer cries over ‘favouritism’ in East London ring, quits the sport
Mokoena Nkopane was so upset the ref stopped the fight that he sobbed uncontrollably.
A video doing the rounds shows the moment when a young boxer fighting in the Eastern Cape appears to have had enough.
During his flyweight bout, Mokoena Nkopane was knocked down by a great combination that ended with a powerful left hook.
Looking very the worse for wear, the TV cameras caught Nkopane bawling like a baby in his corner shortly afterwards, presumably because the referee stopped the fight.
The boxer had wanted to continue, because although he was knocked down, he certainly wasn’t knocked out, and had jumped up again quite quickly, ready to keep waging battle.
It’s possible the sounds of crying were added by a video editor and didn’t actually happen.
A deeply disappointed Nkopane was then interviewed and expressed his dismay at the decision.
Nkopane accused the referee of making the decision to allow his opponent to win because he was from East London. It was his second match in the city and, both times, the referees stopped the fights to “make his opponents win”.
“I’m not feeling well at all,” he says, vowing: “I quit!”
The fight took place at the Orient Theatre in East London. Nkopane made his debut at the venue in September last year and lost in a TKO to Xolisile Voyi in the fifth round.
Nkopane fought again in April this year, losing to Siphosethu Zingela in four rounds.
Not much more about the young fighter seems to be available though.
Check out the video below:
