South African in a daze

It was the day after Manny Pacquiao stopped Lehlo Ledwaba to wrest the International Boxing Federation (IBF) superbantamweight title and the South African, wearing dark glasses to cover the lumps around his eyes, ate a late lunch at the MGM Grand buffet restaurant in Las Vegas last Sunday.

I walked up to Ledwaba who had just finished his meal. I introduced myself as a boxing journalist and asked if I could join him at his table. Ledwaba said why not. I pulled up a chair.

Speaking impeccable English, Ledwaba answered all my questions.

"I didn’t think Pacquiao was that strong," he confessed. "He hurt my nose in the first round. I couldn’t breathe because the blood clogged my nose. Up to now, I still can’t breathe properly. But I don’t think my nose is broken."

Ledwaba, 29, said he wasn’t prepared for Pacquiao. "He was a late substitute for (Enrique) Sanchez," continued Ledwaba who hadn’t lost in 23 fights in eight years. "I watched his fights on tape and he looked wild. His trainer (Freddie Roach) did a good job in the gym."

Ledwaba said he arrived in Las Vegas two weeks before the bout. "I couldn’t adjust to the hot weather," he noted. "It’s in the middle of winter in South Africa. Las Vegas was too hot and dry. And the flight took 23 hours."

Ledwaba had no excuses for losing. "I was 100 percent fit, 100 percent prepared to fight," he said. "I sparred over 70 rounds. It was just an offnight for me–one of those things. I’m at the peak of my career. I’ve got two to three more good years of fighting left. Maybe, his southpaw style confused me. I just don’t know. But I got caught. I didn’t black out. The doctors told me to lie on the canvas while they examined me. I could’ve stood up earlier."

Clearly, Ledwaba was still in a daze. He couldn’t explain why Pacquiao made him look like a novice in the ring. "I don’t know why I couldn’t hit him," he said. "I should’ve studied his tapes more carefully. I didn’t know what to do."

Was Pacquiao the strongest fighter he’s ever met?

"No–Michael Johnson was stronger," replied Ledwaba, referring to the American whom he outpointed for the IBF crown two years ago. For the record, Johnson never decked Ledwaba who was floored thrice by Pacquiao.

Ledwaba promised to bounce back. "I hope Pacquiao gives me a chance to regain the title," he said. "I’m not finished. I hope to fight for a world title again–IBF or whatever–as long as it’s credible. I’m sticking it out as a superbantamweight. I’m not moving up.

Ledwaba, the oldest of four children from different fathers, was raised by his mother who used to work as a housemaid for white families in Johannesburg. He said he knows his father but doesn’t care for him. Ledwaba has two children–a 10-year-old boy and a four-year-old daughter. He lives with his mother and children in an eight-room house, a short walk to the dirt-floor gym where he first laced up gloves at the age of nine. An uncle–a former amateur fighter–and the late trainer David Kgotsane taught him how to box. His son plays football but if he wants to box, Ledwaba said he’ll support him.

As an amateur, Ledwaba compiled a 157-3 record and won four South African titles. He turned pro in 1990 and won the World Boxing Union (WBU) bantamweight title seven years later. Ledwaba relinquished the WBU crown after a single defense then annexed the IBF diadem in 1999.

Ledwaba, who is highly educated and considered the best boxer to come out of South Africa the last 25 years, wasn’t supposed to lose to Pacquiao. Oddsmakers picked Nelson Mandela’s favorite fighter to win either on points or by a KO inside eight rounds.