Nkosinathi Joyi’s trainer wants the IBO to order a rematch between his fighter and Hekkie Budler.
Sipatho Handi, who also manages Joyi, said on Sunday the judges’ decision to award Budler a split-decision victory at Emperors Palace on Saturday night was “daylight robbery”.
Budler retained his IBO strawweight title when two judges scored the bout in his favour, 115-113 and 116-113. The third had it 116-112 for Joyi, a former IBO and IBF champion.
Handi said a complaint over the decision had been forwarded to the IBO, with the request for a rematch.
"I don't care if the fight took place close to midnight and two of the judges might have dozed off instead of watching the proceedings," said Handi. "The only words that come to mind … is that it was daylight robbery.
"The German judge had Nkosinathi a clear-cut 116-112 winner, so I can't fathom what the other two gentlemen were thinking."
Handi did admit that Joyi, whom Ring magazine once rated the top strawweight in the world, was not at his best and might have seen his best days.
"At 23 or 24, Nkosinathi would have knocked Budler out in a couple of rounds," he said.
"At the age of 30, he is still a far more accomplished boxer than Budler, and he’ll prove it in a rematch."
