Africa Ka Mahamba
South African Brandan Mashele was attempting to reclaim the World Kickboxing title but a shoulder injury made the fight an impossible mountain to climb.
Mashele got injured in the second round in the fight hosted on Saturday night in Pretoria. The referee tried to stop the match in the third round but Mashele continued his fight against Kevan Sala of France.
He never gave up but lost the six round fight on points.
In an interview with Scrolla.Africa, the 23-year-old fighter from Soshanguve, Tshwane said the fight was the most challenging in his kickboxing career.
“I had to shift to orthodox from the third round to survive. I told myself that I wouldn’t let the fight be stopped because of my dislocated left shoulder. I wanted to win the world title for the third time,” he said.
“It was not easy to fight with an injury but I lasted through the fight. As soon as I get well I will ask for a rematch because I know I will get the title back.”
Mashele is the youngest African to hold a World Kickboxing title.
Mashele was fighting to win back the title he lost in 2020 against Yassim Moutacim of Belgium.
Brandan, who has 12 professional fights with 10 wins and two losses, won the World Amateur Kickboxing title aged 16 in Austria against Salli Saka in 2013 and won his first professional World Kickboxing title in 2016 after defeating Mohammed Khaial Boulef of Belgium.hi
His trainer and father Shihan Mashele said his son tried his best to bring the title home despite the injury.
“Dislocating his shoulder in the second round left him in a very difficult position. In the third round the referee tried to stop the fight but Brandan refused because he wanted to bring the title to Mzansi.
“He received medical attention after the fight and he will start training when he gets better for the rematch,” said Shihan.
