Lamali flattens opponent in less than a minute

A NEW star was born at Presley’s Night Club in Boksburg last week. Lodumo “9mm” Lamali not only lived up to his nickname, he also left fight fans at the venue in disbelief at the manner in which he blasted away Ephraim Chauke in less than a minute.

The 22-year-old bantamweight started the fight moving from side to side, meeting Chauke with furious punches. The skeletal-looking Lamali then connected with a well-timed powerful right cross to the chin and Chauke went down as if he had been shot.

Chauke, who is trained by Stanley Ndlovu, got up, but that seemed like a red rag to a bull because Lamali moved in and let fly with a three-punch combination that knocked Chauke’s head back so badly that referee Ben Ngcapayi intervened.

That is how Lamali registered his second win in as many professional bouts while Chauke’s debut was not as impressive.

Nick Durandt has produced great fighters in the bantamweight class, including Silence “Real Deal” Mabuza, who held the IBO strap. In fact, Lamali could easily be mistaken for that pugilist from Tsakane. Lamali is a seven times national junior and senior amateur champion.

Said Durandt: “I see a bright future for the young man if he keeps his head on his shoulders. He is definitely a future champion — he’s quick and carries power. You could mistake him for a seasoned fighter, yet it was only his second bout. “I just need to keep him busy, build his record in order for him to get rated and, who knows, maybe the chance to fight for the national title can come quicker than expected.”

The other youngster who left an impression was Nkanyiso Mbedje from Gert Strydom’s camp. He blasted Rudewell Tyizeka away in less than two minutes, taking his record to two wins.