Namibian boxer Charles Shinima expressed disappointment following his World Boxing Council International Welterweight title loss to South Africa’s Brandon Thysse on Saturday night in Johannesburg.
He said the judges’ decision did not reflect his performance in the ring.
Shinima, who went into the highly anticipated bout with an impressive unbeaten record, suffered his first professional defeat in what many boxing enthusiasts described as a closely contested fight at the Emperors Palace.
The Namibian boxer started the fight with confidence, using his sharp jab and quick footwork to keep Thysse at bay.
Throughout the rounds, Shinima consistently landed clean punches, appearing to dominate several exchanges.
However, the judges ruled in favour of the South African, much to the surprise of the Namibian camp.
Speaking after the fight, Shinima voiced frustration at the decision but remained gracious in defeat.
“Everyone who watched the fight saw how I was performing and scoring points. Unfortunately, the judges didn’t see what everyone else saw.
A loss is not what I wanted at this stage of my career, but I have to accept it and move on,” he said.
Despite the setback, the 31-year-old pugillist said the defeat had only fuelled his determination to come back stronger. “This is not the end of the road for me. I will go back to the gym, work harder, and come back better.
I want to thank everyone who has been supporting me from day one – my fans, my team and everyone who believed in me,” he said. The loss leaves Shinima with a record of 15 wins and one loss.
The Namibian is now expected to regroup and plan his next move under the guidance of his trainers.
With his talent, many believe this defeat is merely a setback in what promises to be a bright boxing career.
Shinima remains one of Namibia’s top boxing prospects.
His journey to international glory is far from over. The boxer is expected to return to the ring later this year. He seeks to rebuild his reputation and work towards another shot at a title.
-lmupetami@nepc.com.na