Andy Souwero39;s first loss in over four years in the Shoot Boxing ring to new-comer Toby Imada may have come with good reason as he revealed post-fight that he carried a possibly severe back injury into Tuesdayo39;s S-Cup semi-final bout.

Team Souwero39;s personal physician is yet to perform a full diagnosis on the three-time S-Cup and two-time K-1 MAX champion but suspects that Souwer suffered a herniated disc in his quarter final KO victory over WMC Welterweight Champion Bovy Sor Audomsorn.

"(I had back pain) in the first round in the first fight. I didno39;t know what exactly the problem was or what the reason was that I had the pain. I dono39;t want to make excuses but I think it was a big reason why I was not able to fight my own game (against Imada). Io39;m not saying that I lost because of an injury but I can tell you that I didno39;t even warm up because of the pain," Souwer revealed in a post fight interview.

Souwer was clearly not himself in his semi-final match with Bellatoro39;s Toby Imada. Souwer is a fighter that is typically slow to start but he never really got up to speed in the later rounds and Imadao39;s domination in the clinch was surprising even given the Americano39;s grappling roots.

"I feel disappointed of course. Buakaw fought smart and so now he is the champion. I will come back stronger than I was. My first fight wasno39;t the fight that I had in mind. Ito39;s not an excuse with the injuries but ito39;s a fact that can cost you the title, that can cost you the fight. But no excuses any more. I feel disappointed and Buakaw did well. On to the next goal."

Despite coming runner-up in the 2009 K-1 World MAX, Souwer did not compete in this yearo39;s tournament due to his commitments to Shoot Boxing and because FEG were slow to book fighters announce the format of this yearo39;s K-1 MAX World GP. Shoot Boxingo39;s S-Cup is a biannual event and so next year Souwero39;s sights will be set on K-1 and Giorgio Petrosyan.