Okine retains IBF Intercontinental welterweight crown

Sikhulule Sidzumo failed in his bid to lift the IBF Intercontinental welterweight crown after he lost to Ghanaian Joshua Okine at the Accra International Conference Centre in Ghana.

Details about the real outcome of the fight came in drips and drabs with other reports saying Sidzumo was disqualified after repeatedly hitting Okine below the belt while others revealed that after Okine was unable to continue for being hit below the belt the scores were added and Sidzumo was declared a loser by a technical decision.

Sidzumo’s promoter Siphatho Handi was also in the dark about the real outcome of the fight, saying he was informed that the scores were added after Okine could not continue in the seventh round after being hit by a low blow.

“The promoter of the fight sent me a text message saying that Sidzumo was disqualified after repeated warnings for hitting under belt but what is confusing is the part about the addition of the scorecards because when a boxer is disqualified no scores are added,” Handi said.

What is clear though is that Sidzumo who holds the SA junior welterweight crown did not win the fight.

Sikhulule Sidzumo failed in his bid to lift the IBF Intercontinental welterweight crown after he lost to Ghanaian Joshua Okine at the Accra International Conference Centre in Ghana.

Details about the real outcome of the fight came in drips and drabs with other reports saying Sidzumo was disqualified after repeatedly hitting Okine below the belt while others revealed that after Okine was unable to continue for being hit below the belt the scores were added and Sidzumo was declared a loser by a technical decision.

Sidzumo’s promoter Siphatho Handi was also in the dark about the real outcome of the fight, saying he was informed that the scores were added after Okine could not continue in the seventh round after being hit by a low blow.

“The promoter of the fight sent me a text message saying that Sidzumo was disqualified after repeated warnings for hitting under belt but what is confusing is the part about the addition of the scorecards because when a boxer is disqualified no scores are added,” Handi said.

What is clear though is that Sidzumo who holds the SA junior welterweight crown did not win the fight.