Nwokolo seeks rematch after disputed loss to Sanchez

Nigerian-American boxer Emeka Nwokolo believes he did enough to win against Argentina’s Jonathan Sanchez. He is open to a rematch after losing his WBA-NABA super welterweight title by unanimous decision in Long Beach, California, on Saturday.

Nwokolo was defending his title for the third time on the "Champions of Tomorrow" fight card at Thunder Studios. The judges scored the 10-round fight 96-94, 100-90, and 97-93 in favor of Sanchez. Nwokolo, who is 33 years old, strongly disagrees with the judges' decision.

"I genuinely believed I won the fight on points. I may not have delivered my usual performance, and I take responsibility for the areas where I could have done better. However, I respectfully disagree with the judges’ decision because I believe I did enough to win," Nwokolo told our correspondent.

The Lion Heart 707 was still respectful towards the new champion. "First, congratulations to my opponent. He got his moment, and I respect that. His reaction after the decision suggested that even he was surprised by the result. That is boxing, and I accept that the official decision went his way, even though I see the fight differently," he said.

"I don’t believe he was the better fighter that night, and if I get the opportunity for a rematch, I’m confident I can come back stronger and prove myself. This experience has taught me that, in boxing, it’s not enough to believe you are winning rounds. You have to make your performance clear to the judges from the first round to the last."

Nwokolo is the son of Nigerian boxing legend Charles Nwokolo. He holds titles including the WBF International, UBO International, American Boxing Federation, and UBO world titles. Before this fight, he had a record of 17 wins and only one loss, with 14 of those wins coming by knockout.

He returned in June from a year-long injury layoff with a third-round stoppage of Britain’s Darren Hamilton in Detroit. The loss to Sanchez, who has a record of 27 wins, eight losses, and one draw, is Nwokolo’s second as a professional.

Nwokolo said that fighting a seasoned opponent has changed his view of the sport. "Facing an opponent with so much professional experience opened my mind and gave me a different perspective on the sport. I learned valuable lessons that will help me grow, improve my performance, and become a more complete fighter," he said.

"I didn’t walk away from this fight feeling that I had nothing to gain. I walked away with experience, lessons, and more motivation to keep moving forward. I started boxing later than many fighters, so every challenge is an opportunity to learn and develop."

He is determined to bounce back and insists the loss has not shaken his confidence. He said, "I have worked hard to become a champion, and one fight does not define my career or change my belief in myself. I congratulate my opponent on his moment, but I know what I am capable of."

"I will be back. If the opportunity comes to run it back, I will welcome it. This experience will make me a better fighter, and my journey toward becoming a world champion continues."