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Monte Carlo - Nkosinati Joyi’s career took a huge knock on Saturday night when Rey Loreto knocked him stone cold in the third round.
The little Filipino won the IBO junior bantamweight title when Joyi took a succession of left hooks to the head in one of the big fights of the Golden Gloves tournament in Monte Carlo.
The fight was over after 49 seconds of the third round, and the South African was still on the canvas minutes later.
Joyi, a former IBF and IBO mini-flyweight champion, was trying to win a third “world” title but walked into a rank outsider who seized the opportunity when the South African failed to keep up his guard.
Loreto had Joyi in serious trouble right at the end of the second round after landing three solid lefts to the head. Joyi still seemed a little wobbly when the third round began and a thundering left to the jaw dumped him on the floor.
With his professional record dropping to 24-3, including 17 knockouts, Joyi may find it hard to rebuild his status. The new champion’s record improved to 17-13, with 9 wins inside the distance.
The clash between two southpaws – one tall and calm and the other one stocky and busy – was off to an uneventful start but it soon became clear that Joyi’s defence was letting him down.
His jab and a series of body blows did not keep Loreto at a distance and the hero of Mdantsane near East London might have paid the price for not showing his opponent enough respect.
