Mathebula inspires Baby Face
Legend marvels at IBO champ’s rout of Quaye
Ferocious IBO flyweight champion Moruti “Baby Face” Mthalane knocked Ghanaian Isaac Quaye out in two rounds in Mohlakeng, on the West Rand, on Sunday, much to the jubilation of the big crowd.
Their 10-rounder formed part of a tournament to honour former WBA flyweight champion Peter “Terror” Mathebula that was organised by Victory Sports Production of Shanell Winlock.
Mathebula and his wife Emma were at the ringside as guests.
Composure, conduct and discipline are some of the many attributes that make Mthalane the dangerous fighter he still is at 34.
That is an age when some boxers begin to slow down and show signs of wear and tear.
Like fine wine, the former IBF champion is getting better with age. He went straight to work from the opening round on Sunday, dismantling Quaye’s tight defence with his ramrod jabs.
Mthalane upped his tempo in round two, forcing Quaye to concentrate on defending himself, rather than his offence. Quaye went down under a flurry of punches and it was all over, bar the shouting.
Mthalane fought like Mathebula when he made boxing history in 1980, becoming the first black boxer in SA to win a world title. That’s was the WBA flyweight belt.
“Wow! This boy is a machine,” remarked Mathebula, who is now 65.
Mthalane is from Lindelani in Durban, but he fights out of HotBox Gym in Johannesburg where he is trained by Colin Nathan and Vusi Mtolo.
He improved to 23 knockouts in 34 wins against two losses. He is rated No 6 by the WBC and The Ring Magazine, and 10th by the IBF.
Earlier in the day, Lebohang Mapitse captured the vacant Gauteng junior bantamweight belt after forcing a fourthround stoppage of equally competent Khayalethu Mbeje.
Sanele Maduna dug deep in Singalakha Nzanzana’s midsection and Nzanzana ran like a thief for three rounds, only to come back strong in the fourth and final round.
It was too little too late. Linda Ntshingila knocked Andile Mabilisa out in one round, while untidy Ronald Malindi clumsily won an eight-rounder against Mfundisi Ngema.
Masixole Kweza stopped Andrew Gumbi in three rounds, while Arnel Lubisi floored Themba Ntuli in two.
Rand West mayor Mzi Khumalo, whose municipality funded the tournament, was also ringside.