Boxing: Berridge suffers points loss in title fight

Robbie Berridge.

Kiwi boxer Robert Berridge has been out-pointed over 12 rounds in his IBO world light heavyweight title challenge against Tommy Oosthuizen in South Africa this morning.

Although Berridge hurt the hometown boy on several occasions, he couldn't stop Oosthuizen, who, given his 1.93m height and 20cm reach advantage, was always going to be a big challenge.

Berridge's manager Vasco Kovacevic said his 30-year-old fighter, who took the bout on three weeks' notice, suffered in the higher Johannesburg altitude.

"No excuses, Rob was a little flat and fatigued when he got on the inside. He couldn't put the second phases together before Oosthuizen tied him up or snuck out of range," he said.
"Given a full camp, with high altitude in mind, I am certain we could have tipped the judges' scales in our favour or stopped him.

"We will be looking to challenge for the vacant title again in the very near future."

Although Berridge lost the fight, the IBO title remains vacant after Oosthuizen failed to make weight on Saturday's farcical weigh-in. The champion was forced to vacate the title and forfeit 30 per cent of his purse, leaving a rematch a possibility.

Following the weigh-in, the Berridge camp said they were planning on hiring armed security due to what they said was intimidation from Oosthuizen's support group.