How Phumelela Cafu survived injury scare to become world champion

However, quick thinking from his team and promoter of Boxing 5 Promotions, Larry Wainstein, saved the day and the title he now proudly holds.

Cafu beat Tanaka on a majority points decision in a fight that took place in Japan last month, and says he was almost in tears about the possibility of pulling out.

"My shoulder was very painful three weeks before the fight. I could move it, but whenever I punched or tried to move it a bit faster or harder, it was painful," revealed Cafu.

"So I thought to myself, and I called Colin [Nathan] and uncle Larry, and I told everyone who was training me that this is what's happening so I'm not sure what we're going to do.

"Because it was only like three weeks before the fight, so it was really bothering me. I nearly cried because I was [thinking], 'Why is this happening to me? I'm about to pull out of a world title shot.'"

Trained and managed by South Africa’s leading boxing specialist Colin Nathan, the 26-year-old, who hails from Duncan Village in East London, says Wainstein proved to be a saviour just one week before his title shot.

"I knew Colin would never let me fight with one arm, so obviously we were going to pull out. But uncle Larry said, 'No, I have a plan. I have people that might be able to help you,'" he added.

"After he told me that, I had to be patient and see what they do, and in a week's time I could move my shoulder perfectly, and we carried on with treatment up until my shoulder was perfect.

"Before I left [South Africa for Japan], I could feel I could do anything with my shoulder, so I think a week before the fight – after two weeks of treatment, I was doing an exercise and felt my shoulder is really back, so I was happy to be able to fight."

READ: Phumelela Cafu finally receives his WBO World title belt