Awesome truth behind photo of boxer's mangled face

A South African boxer has had the last laugh after becoming the unwanted face of one of the sport’s most graphic recent images.

One the face of it (no pun intended), most observers could be forgiven for thinking Moruti Mthalane lost his IBF flyweight title fight against Japan’s Masayuki Kuroda in Tokyo.

After all, the image of the Japanese boxer re-arranging his South African opponent’s face lends itself to the notion that Mthalane suffered a brutal knockout defeat.

In one of the most impeccably executed pieces of camera work work you’ll ever see in boxing, the photo paints a stunning illustration of the brutal force of Kuroda’s punch.

The ferocious left hand caught Mthalane flush on the face, contorting the South African’s nose and lips into scarily unnatural positions.

Rather than causing him to hit the canvas though, the massive shot seemed to shock Mthalane into action as he rallied for a stunning victory.

Putting the early setback aside, 36-year-old champion dominated his Japanese rival in the final rounds, leaving the challenger bloodied and battered after the final bell.

The South African won by unanimous decision to complete a second successive defence in his second stint as IBF flyweight champion.

“I’m feeling very much happy because today I defended my best,” Mthalane said.

“Kuroda kept working. He wanted the belt and gave his best as a challenger.”

Mthalane also held the flyweight belt between 2009 and 2013.