Wanganui-born boxer Robert Berridge was unable to capture the IBO world light-heavyweight title after a unanimous points decision loss in a fight where nobody emerged a true winner early yesterday.
Berridge (26-3-1) could not get inside his 1.93m tall opponent Tommy Oosthuizen (25-0-2) enough times to stop him in Gauteng,South Africa.
While he opened the South African up on the left side of his face in the tenth round, Berridge was trailing on points and ultimately lost the decision from the judges by 116-112, and two 117-111 scorecards.
"Didn't get the W [win] but had a good time in the ring. Pretty gutted with the decision but that's boxing and we'll be back stronger," Berridge said on Facebook.
"Really proud of the team around me, we took the fight on three weeks [notice], no excuses though, we worked hard through those 12 rounds."
Cousin and cornerman Paul Berridge, of Wanganui, said "the butcher" fought like a champion.
"From where I was and my knowledge, Rob landed more punches and controlled the fight."
Only Berridge could have left Emperors Palace with the world title after the farcical situation where Oosthuizen twice missed the 79.4kg limit at a fiery weigh-in on Saturday, finishing up at 80.55kg.
The South African forfeited 30 per cent of his fight purse - two thirds of which went to Berridge - and was stripped of the IBO belt, which remains vacant.
Words were exchanged between the two boxers' camps and the promoter Rodney Berman of Golden Gloves was furious - moving the fight out of the main event spot and yanking a planned November title bout for Oosthuizen off the table.
