Two of South Africa's top boxers clashed in a rematch last night at Carnival City in Brakpan with Jeffrey Mathebula walking away with Takalani Ndlovu's IBF super bantam belt.

The pair first tangled in 2010, also at Carnival City, with Ndlovu winning an IBF title eliminator over Mathebula by split decision but this time the decision went against the Soweto man.

Once the bell rang last evening, Mathebula immediately looked to take things out of the judge's hands, swinging for the fences with nearly every effort but the seasoned Ndlovu showed excellent composure avoiding the Brakpan resident's bombs.

The champion showed superb countering skills in the early going, picking off Mathebula with neat combinations but the constant movement required to pull this off seemed to tire Ndlovu by the middle rounds.

Mathebula took advantage of this opportunity to relentlessly pressure Ndlovu, outworking the champion down the stretch in what turned out to be a very entertaining contest.

After 12 rounds, Mathebula won two of the cards, 117-111 and 116-112 while Ndlovu won the third, 115-113, to lose his IBF crown.

Mathebula wins his first world title three years after dropping a split decision for the WBA and IBF crowns to Celestino Caballero, improving to 26-3-2 (14), while Ndlovu descends to 33-7 (18), after making one successful title defense. More...

IBF flyweight champion Moruti Mthalane retained his 112 pound title with a stirring performance against Andrea Sarritzu at Pala Rockefeller in Caligari, Italy on Friday night.

South Africa's Mthalane went onto Sardinian resident Sarritzu's home turf in putting his IBF crown at risk for the third time since winning the belt against Julio Cesar Miranda two years ago.

Two-time European titlist Sarritzu was making his first world title challenge since drawing with WBO kingpin Omar Andres Narvaez in 2003.

Sarritzu used his veteran experience to keep the champion at a distance during the early rounds, boxing and moving well. Mthalane tested the challenger's defensive skills when the Johannesburg man began to open up his arsenal from long range.

As the bout wore on, Mthalane started to close the gap, throwing enough leather to throw off the Italian's gameplan and take control by the fourth frame. More...

In a battle between two of South Africa's top fighters, Chris Van Heerden emerged with the IBO welterweight crown after 12 rounds of thrilling combat with Kaizer Mabuza last night at Emperor's Palace in Kempton Park.

Former domestic light welter champ Mabuza was coming off a failed bid to win the vacant IBF 140 lb bauble against Zab Judah in March and was making his debut appearance in the welterweight class.

Southpaw Van Heerden, South African welter titlist, came into the bout having won a tough IBO eliminator in June against Bongani Mwelase but was up against his most experienced foe to date.

Mabuza wasted no time once the bell rang, doing what he does best, coming forward and applying relentless pressure against Van Heerden, who lost the early rounds as he struggled to cope with his strong-willed opponent.

Once Van Heerden got Mabuza's rhythm down however, the lefty started to outbox the oppressive veteran, working well behind a strafing jab and high activity. More...

Fighting in his native Armenia for the first time in his pro career, bantamweight Vic Darchinyan kept hold of his IBO title against the challenge posed by South African super flyweight Evans Mbamba in an all-southpaw battle.

In front of a sold old Karen Demirchyan Sports Complex in Yerevan, Darchinyan swept the judges' scorecards after 12 rounds of brawling with the African import.

Making his debut at 118 pounds, Mbamba, who had previously held the WBC International super fly bauble and unsuccessfully challenged for the Interim WBC super fly crown, was at a strength disadvantage against the taller Darchinyan, who maximized his edge by employing his trademark roughhouse tactics.

Mbamba was the quicker fighter however, and while he did well whenever the action took place in the center ring, he wasn't busy enough as the constant wrestling and entanglements with Darchinyan sapped the South African's stamina. More...

After suffering two defeats to Steve Molitor in IBF title fights over the last four years, Takalani Ndlovu gained revenge last night at Nasrec Indoor Arena in Johannesburg, capturing Molitor's IBF crown.

From the start, Ndlovu seemed to be a man on a mission, pushing the southpaw champion from Canada back with extra zeal and grit in front of a partisan hometown audience that packed the venue.

A notorious slow starter, Molitor usually builds up in intensity as the rounds go on but Ndlovu thwarted the pattern with a spearing body attack in the second that had the visitor hanging on until the end of the frame.

Ndlovu continued to pressure Molitor unceasingly, driving the North American onto the back foot behind a stiff jab that also kept Molitor from his usual tactic of effective counterpunching. More...

The latest installment of Steve Molitor vs. Takalani Ndlovu for the IBF title takes place tonight but on this occasion the super bantams will clash for the first time in Ndlovu's homeland of South Africa, headlining a card at Nasrec Indoor Arena in Johannesburg.

The pair's two previous bouts took place at Molitor's stomping grounds in Ontario with the Canadian southpaw stopping his arch-rival in the ninth frame in 2007 but their second engagement almost exactly a year ago saw Ndlovu go the distance and press Molitor hard, losing a unanimous decision.

Since that time, Molitor had a difficult IBF defense in England against British and Commonwealth king Jason Booth while Ndlovu won perhaps the biggest fight of his career, an IBF eliminator by split decision over top domestic rival Jeffrey Mathebula.

Molitor and Ndlovu certainly are familiar with the style of each other by this point and it will be interesting to see if the change in venue affects the outcome in any way. More...

Last night at Emperor's Palace in Kempton Park, IBO welterweight champion Lovemore N'dou showed challenger Bongani Mwelase that fights are won in the ring, not pre-fight press conferences.

The previously undefeated southpaw Mwelase made many headlines during the media build up when he declared that he would become the first boxer to KO the 39 year old N'dou, which greatly irritated the champion.

As soon as the contest began, N'dou got right to work, nullifying the 28 year old Mwelase's considerable height and reach advantages by cutting down the distance and firing off his punches first.

Mwelase made the tactical error of looking for opportunities to land a big punch while N'dou boxed clever, building up a lead by outworking the challenger and using angles to keep his opponent off balance. More...

IBO welterweight champ Lovemore N'dou heads back to the ring tonight, putting his belt at risk against challenger Bongani Mwelase at Emperor's Palace in Kempton Park, South Africa.

At age 39, N'dou, 47-11-2 (31), is still going strong as evidenced by his performances last year that saw "The Black Panther" defeat Phillip N'dou on points for the IBO strap before posting a draw against Matthew Hatton in England to retain the title.

The iron-chinned former IBF light welter titlist has faced world champions Miguel Cotto, Kermit Cintron, Junior Witter, Sharmba Mitchell and Paulie Malignaggi but N'dou could also be in tough tonight in the form of the challenge posed by Mwelase, who will hold substantial advantages in the height, strength and age departments.

28 year old Mwelase, 14-0 (12) certainly hasn't engaged quite the lineup of talent littering N'dou's resume but the southpaw has had a fair share of experience against decent opponents during his four year professional career following a superb amateur run. More...

Mzonke Fana not only won the IBF super featherweight title for the second time but the 36 year old from Cape Town gained revenge against domestic archrival Cassius Baloyi last night at Carnival City in Brakpan.

After having started off slowly in his previous IBF title clash with Baloyi in 2008 and losing on points as a result, Fana did a complete about face last evening.

The former South African titlist was on fire from the first bell and showed no signs of inactivity from his 14 moth spell away from the ring. Fana was a blizzard of activity, throwing leather with both hands at a tremendous pace.

35 year old Baloyi could not keep his antagonist at arm's length where his height advantage could have made a difference as Fana got on the inside from the start. More...

Big show tonight at Carnival City in Brakpan as the much awaited rematch between super feathers Mzonke Fana and Cassius Baloyi headlines with a red hot clash at flyweight between Moruti Mthalane and Zolane Tete as chief support; both contests are for IBF titles.

Fana, 29-4 (12), and Baloyi, 37-4-1 (19), first went at in 2008 with Fana losing his IBF super feather crown via majority decision after 12 very tough rounds.

Baloyi's reign only lasted over one defense however, as he was halted by Malcolm Klassen last year. Both Fana and Baloyi won IBF title eliminators last year with Fana finishing off Jasper Seroka in six and Baloyi outpointing Roberto David Arrieta. More...

Venezuelan puncher Miguel Acosta made good on his Namibian vacation, stretching out local man Paulus Moses in the sixth round last night for lightweight world honors at Kalahari Sand Hotel in Windhoek.

Moses had never lost a professional contest going into last evening's fight and was coming off both a WBA title win and defense over his past two outings but his confidence proved not enough to keep the victory parade going.

Acosta previously KO'd undefeated American Urbano Antillon in nine rounds for the Interim WBA belt and the Moses KO confirms that Caracas banger is a certified force to be reckoned with at 135 pounds. More...

WBA lightweight ruler Paulus Moses puts his world title on the line tonight, meeting the challenge of Miguel Acosta at Kalari Sands Hotel in Windhoek, Namibia.

Venezuelan puncher Acosta, 26-3-2 (20), seemingly came out of nowhere to capture the Interim WBA belt last year by knocking out American contender Urbano Antillon in Mexico.

But the 32 year old Caracas veteran had won a WBA super feather title eliminator over previously undefeated Anges Adjaho in 2007 and holds a victory over ex-WBA lightweight strapholder Jose Alfaro.

31 year old Moses, 25-0 (17), was also largely unknown when he traveled to Japan and dethroned WBA lightweight titlist Yusuke Kobori in January, 2009 and "The Hitman" solidified his grip on the crown by beating back the challenge of Takehiro Shimada by a wide points decision a year ago. More...

Soweto's top boxer ran into trouble last night at Wembley Hall in Johannesburg as Isaac Hlatshwayo was relieved of his IBF light welter title by challenger Jan Zaveck.

Hlatshwayo was making the first defense of his world belt after hammering out a split decision verdict in America over Delvin Rodriguez during a rematch this past August.

Czech born, Germany based Zaveck had previously held the European Union and various regional titles but came up short for the European title a year ago, losing a split decision to Rafal Jackiewicz a year ago.

Once the bout started last night at Wembley Hall, former lightweight Hlatshwayo was no match for the natural welter Zaveck as the challenger hammered the South African from the opening bell.

This shocking turn of events put the champion on the floor in the first and second frames before the contest was called off at 2:55 of the third round.

Zaveck wins by far the biggest fight of his career, annexing the IBF welterweight strap and seeing his record to 28-1 (16), while Hlatshwayo drops to 29-2-1 (10).

There was a big show last night at Mangaung Indoor Centre in Bloemfontein with a South African and three WBF title belts at stake.

Ex-South African light and super middleweight champ William Gare, 26-14 (5), continued his reign as WBF super middle kingpin by dropping previously undefeated Mexican champ Rigoberto Alvarez, 22-1 (16), in the first enroute to a 12 round unanimous decision.

34 year old iron-chinned Braamfischer man Gare has now won four straight bouts and managed three WBF title defenses.

The "Killer Shark" was back in action on the bill as undefeated Mlungisi Dlamini, 20-0-1 (12), retained his WBF lightweight crown for the fourth time, handling ex-super feather world title challenger Francisco Lorenzo, 33-6 (14), via 12 round unanimous decision.

Big punching Bongani Mwelase, 14-0 (12), lost his WBF welter belt on the scales during his last appearance so the Gauteng southpaw simply went up to light middle to capture the vacant WBF title with a 12 round unanimous decision over Attila "Viper" Kovacs, 25-4 (17).

With the South African super middle trophy at risk, Tshepang Mohale, 7-2 (6), gained revenge upon Kgotso Motau, 15-3 (13), to reverse a May, 2008 loss and regain the title.

Tonight at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT, it's a battle of the nearly men as Isaac Hlatshwayo and Delvin Rodriguez rematch for the vacant IBF welterweight title.

The two clashed last November in Hlatshwayo's homeland of South Africa in a draw and now things move to Connecticut resident Rodriguez's territory.

Both fighters have good records and have impressive achievements on their resume with Hlatshwayo having been in the bigger fights to date but of course that won't mean anything once the bell rings for this anticipated return bout.

Hlatshwayo, 28-1-1 (10), won the South African lightweight title in 2002 and made five successful defenses before winning the IBO belt in 2005 with a points verdict over future IBF champ Cassius Baloyi.

The biggest win of Hlatshwayo's career came one fight later when he won a split decision in America against future unified champion Nate Campbell in an IBO defense.

In 2006, Hlatshwayo stepped up to light welter but was canvassed three times enroute to losing on points to future world champ Kendall Holt for the NABO crown before going up another weight division to win the IBO welter trophy against Joseph Makaringe. More...