By Mesuli Zifo

KAIZER Mabuza may have meekly surrendered against Zab Judah in his biggest fight when they battled for the IBF junior welterweight crown in front of the American audience back in March but he feels winning the vacant IBO welterweight crown will propel him to bigger fights again.

Mabuza faces Chris Van Heerden (16-1-1, 10Kos)  in an all- South African clash for the vacant IBO crown at Emperors Palace in South Africa on September 24.

The 31-year-old can consider himself extremely lucky to engage in a title fight albeit for the marginal one, in a higher division in his next fight after his seventh round stoppage defeat by Judah in March.

In fact Mabuza’s career is nothing short of an overachievement as he was never considered a world beater to begin with.

The fact that he even went on to share the ring with Judah was an achievement on its part as in his own country Mabuza was considered only good for a national title, nothing more.

He earned the Judah fight with stunning sixth round stoppage victory over then favored former WBO champion Kendall Holt in a fight he was never given a chance to win.

Despite his disappointing showing against Judah, a victory which ironically has earned “Super” Judah a date against Amir Khan at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, US this coming Saturday, Mabuza (23-7-3, 14Kos)  is still determined to continue with his fairytale run of defying the odds by capturing the IBO crown and march back to bigger fights in the welterweight division.

“Look, the Judah fight was a disappointment to me but then I feel it is not such a train smash to lose to Judah,” he said.

“Lucas Matthysse also lost to Judah but was never tossed to the wilderness so I am hoping that a win over Van Heerden will bring me back to the world stage.”

But an argument can be made that comparing himself with Mattyhsse is stretching it as the Argentinean lost a controversial points decision to Judah while Mabuza was halted inside the distance.

Mabuza is however unfazed by such argument as he feels that his victory over Holt was good enough to convince the American networks that he is worthy of another big fight in the welterweight division.

“I do not want to make excuses for my loss to Judah but there were lots of things going on before the fight that contributed to my loss,” he says.

“Even my trainer could not travel to US with me for the fight due to visa problems and only joined me on the eve of the fight but like I said that is water under the bridge now.”

Mabuza feels his unimpressive seven defeats- three draws-fight record may be a blessing in disguise as he may be brought as an easy opponent for some of the welterweight champions and get an opportunity to spring his surprise again as he did to Holt.

The September 24 tournament will also feature a vacant IBO mini-flyweight title clash between Hekkie Budler and Filipino Michael Landero.