Despite failing to dethrone Thailander Pongsaklek Wonjongkam of his WBC flyweight world title at the weekend, Mhikiza Myekeni will be allowed to keep his international crown.
This emerged from WBC president Jose Sulaman's letter to Myekeni's promoter Branco Milenkovic that the Mdantsane fighter will be reinstated as the WBC champion.
This is contrary to the WBC rules which stipulate that a fighter who suffers a loss must automatically forfeit the WBC International crown.
It was the same situation with another Mdantsane fighter, Masibulele Makepula, who automatically forfeited his WBC International junior bantamweight crown following his brutal four rounds defeat by Jorge Arce in September.
Milenkovic said the WBC opted to waive the rule due to Myekeni's gusty performance when losing to Wonjongkam.
"Coming to the fight, Wonjongkam had not lost a fight in 10 years but Myekeni pushed him all the way," he said.
"The WBC top brass was so impressed with Myekeni that it decided to reward him by reinstating him as the international champion."
Myekeni was reportedly dropped in the very first round by the Thai veteran. But he came back strongly in the last few rounds.
Wonjongkam was making the first mandatory title defence of his WBC title in two years. He had defended the crown for 15 times against hand-picked opponents.
As the fight went to purse bids, Myekeni earned his biggest purse believed to be more than $50 000 (about R360 000). - Sapa