Cape Town - Former IBF world super featherweight champion Mzonke Fana could call time on his storied career after collapsing in the immediate aftermath of a title fight in Ghana on Saturday.
Fana, who also previously held the WBC international super featherweight and WBF international lightweight titles, suffered a 12 round unanimous decision loss to home-town hero Emmanuel Tagoe in a bout for the vacant IBO world lightweight title.
The “Rose of Khayelitsha” says he is yet to make a final decision, but will consider his future over the festive season.
“It is a concern, but right now I just want to take a break. Maybe this could be my last fight or maybe I could have one or two left. I can’t say right now. I want to wait and see,” he said
“Right now I just want to enjoy my break with my wife and kids. I will make my decision about that next year. I’m not in the right position right now to say what’s next. I’m not sure. First I deserve a break.”
The 43-year-old took the fight against Tagoe on just four days notice after Argentina’s Fernando David Saucedo pulled out. He was knocked down twice in the first round but stayed on his feet for the remainder of the bout.
Tagoe, 29, was completely dominant throughout the fight until that final bell and the judges went on to award him victory with scores of a 120-116, 120-117 and 120-116.
Though he can remember the details fight itself, Fana says he drifted in and out of consciousness between the final bell and his arrival at the hospital.
“After the 12th round, after the final the bell, I just felt dizzy. I asked my trainer to let me sit down and I think he was trying to bring me a chair, but I said I just want to sit down on the floor,” he said.
“I don’t know what happened next, because the next thing I noticed I was on the floor with a lot of people around me. The next thing I noticed I was in the ambulance on my way to the hospital.”
Tagoe was subsequently taken to a second hospital in the Ghanaian capital, where he underwent a brain scan. He says the scan revealed no problems, and that he was cleared by doctors and then taken to his hotel. Fana flew out of Ghana on the same day and arrived in Cape Town on Sunday.
“Thanks to everyone for their support and prayers. I’m back home, well and in good condition,” he added.
Fana has also previously challenged for the WBC world super featherweight, WBO international lightweight, WBA inter-continental lightweight, WBF inter-continental super featherweight and WBO world lightweight titles. He was stripped of the WBF international lightweight title last month for failing to defend the belt, but says he could not secure any challengers.