No option really, otherwise a boxer with one arm may be next!
This was the response from Boxing South Africa (BSA) general manager Krish Naidoo on the ending of KwaZulu-Natal's No 1 nationally ranked light-heavyweight champion Menzi Mdunge's professional career.
This comes after the disclosure that Mdunge, who was set to get a second crack at the national title in October, is blind in his left eye.
Naidoo described the whole situation - which has seen Mdunge fighting as a pro since 2001 with 13 fights, one of which was an SA title fight in 2004 against Erasmus Magwasa at the DLI Hall in Greyville last year - as unfortunate.
Looking at the boxing regulations, Naidoo and BSA's hands were tied on this matter.
Regulation 3 (2) states that a certificate of registration shall not be issued to a boxer if he suffers from defective vision. The requirement is a boxer's vision in both eyes should not be less than 110 for myopia or 20/100 for hyperopia.
Clearly, Mdunge never had a chance.
As Naidoo explains: "It was unfortunate that a concession was made by past KwaZulu-Natal commissioners (the late Maurice Owen and Arthur Nxumalo) for Mdunge to box on the basis that he would indemnify the commission. However, there is no room for such an exception to the rules."
Naidoo said pugilists and the public must keep in mind that the duty of BSA is to protect the health and well being of its licensees and that should be the guiding point whether to license boxers.
Although BSA have advised Mdunge to contact his ophthalmologist again to establish whether his vision in his left eye complies with the requirements of the previously mentioned boxing regulation, even the most positively minded person must accept it is all over for the PJ de Lange trained fighter.
BSA have also referred the matter to their medical committee for another opinion, but have stressed that even before pen is put to paper for the final time on this matter, Mdunge will not be allowed to lace up his gloves.