MF PROLONDON, England – Sikho Nqothole believes Friday's victory over Charlie Edwards was only the beginning.
The South African secured the biggest win of his career, outpointing former WBC flyweight titleholder Edwards over 12 rounds at York Hall to earn the No. 1 ranking with the IBF at junior bantamweight.
Nqothole's sharp jab and heavier punches proved decisive throughout a high-quality contest, earning him a unanimous decision victory and moving him to the front of the queue for a shot at the IBF title currently held by Willibaldo Garcia.
Garcia is scheduled to defend his belt against Andrew Moloney on June 6, with Nqothole expected to face the winner.
“The more I win, the more strength I put in, more strength, more boxing, everything must be combined. So that I know they watch me, they see the opportunities, the weaknesses, but I always change. I'm not one-dimensional in the fight," Nqothole told BoxingScene.
Despite the wide scorecards that read 116-113, 116-112 and 117-111 in favour of Nqothole, Edwards believed he had done enough to claim the win. The Englishman even showboated in the 12th and final session as he ran down the clock, much to the surprise of the Nqothole and his team.
“He convinced himself to say to the judges, ‘I won the fight,’ but I knew myself it was not close,” Nqothole said. “If my face was so swollen or whatever, then I would believe that the fight was close. I can feel my jab when I land on him, and he was not landing so much.”
Nqothole looked on course for a more emphatic victory after hurting Edwards in the third round and dominating much of the early action. As the fight progressed, however, his movement slowed and Edwards enjoyed his best spells of success.
The South African revealed a surprisingly simple explanation.
“My boot was so tight and my legs were flat, I feel like that's why I was not moving so much,” Nqothole explained. “My boot was so tight, I felt like they're pinching me.”
York Hall's notoriously humid atmosphere, intensified by London's summer heat, posed little issue for the Eastern Cape native.
“I did not feel the heat so much, because where I come from it's hot,” he said. “We were training in the sun outside.”
