Is it time for Bungu to bow out?

By Phil Nyamane

London - Vuyani Bungu may take a decision that could hurt him more than the left hook Naseem Hamed knocked him out with in the fourth round on Saturday night.

Officially, the former unbeaten IBF junior featherweight champion still has to discuss his future with his manager, Mzi Mnguni, and promoter Rodney Berman.

Sources close to the camp say he would be advised to retire gracefully instead of fighting as an undercard.

Bungu is still regarded as a legend. It would be sad if he tries to make the mistake that others before him made by continuing to fight and be used as a stepping-stone by rising stars.

Sad as it sounds, few fighters make successful comebacks from being knocked out. The fact that this was Bungu's first inside the limit and third defeat in a 40-fight career could have a negative effect on him.

At 33, the one time darling of South African boxing can learn from a former world champion he hero-worshipped and into whose shoes he stepped - Welcome Ncita.

After losing the title to American Kennedy McKinney, Ncita tried but failed to win another title. Today he is a promoter and has produced a national champion.

In defeat, Bungu was as graceful as he was in some of his memorable victories. He refused to use his 13 months inactivity as an excuse and praised Hamed as a good fighter with the potential to become a great champion.

Sitting in the dressing-room after the bout, he joked about his defeat, while admitting: "I never saw the punch that caught me."

Recalling those spine-chilling seconds he was on the floor, he said he still had his senses when American referee Joe Cortez began the count.

"I watched Bra Mzi looking at me and indicating when I should stand up with his hand. When the referee reached eight, I tried to stand up, but my knees were weak. I've never been knocked down like this before."

Asked whether the long lay-off could have been a factor to his defeat and whether he was too light for a featherweight, Bungu promptly replied: "No. I've always been in the gym because boxing is my bread and butter. I'm a natural featherweight and was confident up to and until he caught me with the punch."

Clasping Bungu's head in his hands, Mnguni whispered: "These things happen."

Turning to me, Mnguni added: "We couldn't get into rhythm because Naseem had the right factors. He was alert, wouldn't let us close to him and fought completely out of our game plan.

"He boxed rather than try to come to us and was very focused. I thought Vuyani was too eager to prove himself. I told him not to try unnecessarily hard because he was missing a lot. I also told him to stay focused.

"We were not disgraced. We lost to a great fighter. He didn't switch as he normally does. They prepared well for this fight and came different from what we knew."

Hamed said he is prepared to fight anyone, but would prefer WBC junior featherweight champion Eric Morales: "Like me he has never been beaten before."

Hamed said he has hit other opponents harder than Bungu.

Recalling the knockout blow, he said: "The punch connected perfectly and Bungu did not see it coming. He was hard to hit though. The credit given him before this fight must still be given to him."

His statement on Bungu could be seen as just self-promotion. But the champion should be given full credit considering this, his 34th win in as many fights, now includes 30 knockouts.

Speaking on the preparations, Hamed added: "I trained my heart out for this fight in Tenerife. I told you this must be and should be my best performance. I deserve an A-plus.

"In the past, I went into a fight without a plan. This time I listened and did everything I was told. I was sharp, spaced myself, moved in angles and was accurate. There was power in my punches. I hit him with body shots people have never seen before. I don't want to hear so much criticism anymore."

Hamed's American trainer, Emanuel Steward, said: "What pleased me was he shortened his punches and did not lose his balance when he missed with a punch."

He said their game plan was to punish Bungu's body with punches instead of forcing a knockout. "I don't think any fighter will beat him."