Malinga destroys Mthembu in five rounds
Peter "Dark Destroyer" Malinga was like a steam engine when he knocked out KwaZulu-Natal's Mthokozisi Mthembu in the fifth of a scheduled 10 rounds welterweight bout at Caesars Gauteng on Monday night.
The former World Boxing Union and International Boxing Organisation champion dropped Mthembu (66,40kg) three times prompting referee Alfred Buqwana to stop the slaughter under the three knock-down rule.
Malinga (66,50kg) first dropped Mthembu with a right hook to the body and left cross to the side of the face. A right to the top of the head midway through the round dropped Mthembu who unwisely stood up before Buqwana could pick up the count. Another hefty right dropped the courageous Mthembu before an overhand right and left hook saw him visit the floor for the third and last time.
Malinga, who won the WBU Millennium belt with a seventh round stoppage of Ashley Whiteboy in May, is improving with every fight. Monday night's victory should shoot him up the national ratings for Joseph Makaringe's national title. On his form against both Whiteboy and Mthembu, it is clear that Malinga is determined to reach his goal of fighting for world title - more so as he was stripped of the IBO belt because of inactivity.
His promoter, Branco Milekovic, who staged this well attended "Fire of Fists" Gala Dinner, said after the bout: "Peter will have two fights before the end of the year. Hopefully the first will be for the national title. After that I intend getting him a fight in London."
Commenting on Malinga's victory, Milenkovic added: "I have never seen him looking so destructive. He showed a lot of class and I'm sure he will soon shoot up the world ratings and win another world title."
That statement may sound an exaggeration. But make no mistake Malinga was in a class of his own. Slipping under or pulling his head back to make Mthembu miss with dangerous swings, the Katlehong-based Malinga first controlled the bout with a left jab forcing Mthembu to fight on the back foot.
Mthembu was all courage, though. He tried to trap Malinga into making mistakes. When Malinga did, Mthembu's best shots unfortunately landed on his opponent's guards or elbows.
Mthembu's best round was the second. He came out smoking after losing the first and surprised Malinga with a right hander and left hook. When Malinga stepped on the gas from the third, Mthembu took a hiding that would have raised lumps on an elephant's skin.
The only signs that gave Mthembu away were his red eyes.
Malinga set Mthembu up for the coup de grace with a right hook to the body and left cross in the opening minutes of the fifth. It was one way traffic from there on and the end was predictable.
- Patrick Malinga (58,20kg) took just 50 seconds to stop Shadrack Montsho (54,10) in the first of a scheduled six rounds junior lightweight bout. A left hook dropped Montsho. He stood on rubbery legs as referee Thabo Spampool assessed him before ending the bout.
- Southpaw Vusi Malinga (53kg) is a fighter to watch. The youngest of four fighting brothers crushed home a series of straight lefts and right hooks to the body to drop Alfred Sebake (53,40) twice for mandatory eight counts in the fourth round before winning on a technical knockout in the fifth round. Dropped for the second time just as the bell ending the round sounded, Sebake failed to answer the bell for the fifth of their scheduled scheduled six rounds bout.
Other results
- Catchweight (four rounds): Aubrey Matshanyela beat Nolan Edward TKO 2; Maxwell Mpofana bt Edward Fatyela, points.
- Bantamweight (six rounds): Vuyani Kheswa beat Bulelani Peter, TKO 2.