Boxing In South Africa: Mzonke Fana Takes IBF Title From Malcolm Klassen

Boxing came to the Western Cape in a very big way last night as local man Mzonke Fana overcame last year’s disappointment against Marco Antonio Barrera to upset reigning IBF Super Featherweight Champion Malcolm Klassen by split decision at Oliver Tambo Sports Centre in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa.

This was a battle royale between top domestic rivals but going into the bout there was a gulf in regard to experience between the two men as Fana had been involved in many more title fights, largely South African and regional WBC bouts, along with a failed bid to unseat WBC Champion Barrera two years ago.

But Klassen was certainly the one riding the waves of momentum as the former domestic featherweight titlist had not lost in his last 13 contests and had made the jump to 130 lb to take the IBF crown from Australian based countryman Gairy St. Clair last November.

When Klassen and Fana went at it last night it was clear that the champion was not going to allow his
challenger to dictate the pace as Klassen pressed his rival heavily for the first half of the bout.

The experienced Fana kept a cool head and continued to work behind the jab when the champion’s assault began to lose it’s drive in the later rounds.

When Klassen’s energy reserve was nearly empty, Fana went to work and began to take apart the younger man with crisp combinations that left Klassen with no answers over the later rounds.

The final frame featured intense firefights with Klassen being shaken at times but the champion managed to finish the bout on his feet.

When the scorecards were read, Mzonke Fana, 26-3 (9), was declared the new IBF Super Featherweight Champion via marks of 116-112 and 116-113 while one judge had it 115-114 for Klassen, who drops to 19-4-2 (10).