Mthalane concedes defeat but still proud
IT looked like father time and prolonged inactivity may finally have conspired against South Africa's Moruti Mthalane, who resumed his illustrious career on Friday evening after an absence of 13 months.
He surrendered his IBF flyweight title to Britain's Sunny Edwards in the headline bout on Frank Warren's Queensberry Promotions bill, in London.
For the first time in his pro career, spanning just over two decades, the 38-year-old Mthalane was outpointed after the judges scored the bout 118-111 120-108 115-113 in favour of 25-year-old Edwards.
Friday's result marked only his third defeat for Mthalane in 39 bouts. The other two losses came via stoppages (TKO).
Edwards imposed himself on the fight from the opening bell as he stuck to a well-thought-out battle plan. He admitted afterwards that he started feeling the effects of his high work rate from the sixth round onwards.
After the bout, he graciously thought the whitewash score 120-108 (a 10-9 score on all 12 rounds) was an exaggeration.
"I knew it would be hard. Mthalane was particularly good at closing the gaps down," said Edwards.
"If I'm honest, I had it 7-5, 8-4 (rounds). 120-108 was not fair, but I deserved to win, and their corner knew it.
"It might not be pretty all the time, but I am hard to beat.
"I hit them hard enough to keep him off, but my legs after that sixth round were tired like they never been before.
"He made my ears 'ding' a couple of times. He must have something wrong with his hands because those gloves were bouncing off like pillows."
Edwards' win will earn him a spot in British boxing annals because his brother Charlie won a world title in the same division in 2018 when he won the WBC strap. They are only the second British pair of brothers to win world boxing titles.
Mthalane had no qualms with the outcome and left the ring with his head
held high.
"I lost the fight on points and congratulations to my opponent. He was the better boxer on the night," said Mthalane afterwards.
"I've tried, but things didn't go my way. Thanks to everyone who gave me the support.
"Thanks to my team, my trainers, my sparring partners and all my teammates at Hotbox Gym.
"I'm still proud of myself to have had a long boxing career and able to win three world titles."
Mthalane finished strongly in the later rounds, but it was a case of too little too late as Edwards used his legs and reach to stay out of harm's way.