‘Mzonke Fana’

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...

Friday night saw a big show at the Carousel Casino in Temba, with three IBF title eliminators on offer.

WBC International Featherweight titlist Jeffrey Mathebula, 22-1-2 (12), made a successful transition to super bantam by winning the IBF eliminator on points at 122 pounds against Mexico's Julio Zarate, 26-5-1 (16).

Former IBF Super Feather Champ Malcolm Klassen, 23-4-2 (14), shockingly stopped durable 37 year old ex-five time world champion Manuel Medina, 67-16-1 (31), of Mexico in round two.

An IBF Minimumweight title eliminator was decided when Ronald Barrera, 24-5-1 (16), KO'd Zukisani Kwayiba, 11-1 (7), in the second frame.

Former IBF Super Feather Champ Mzonke Fana, 28-4 (11), returned from a world title loss to Cassius Baloyi by banging out Victor Manon, 3-9-2 (2), in the third round of a scheduled eight.

Park Station in Johannesburg, South Africa was the scene of a domestic lightweight title bout last night between reigning champion Amon Baloyi and challenger, Patrick Malinga.

Baloyi was the rather inexperienced Gauteng Provincial titlist when he shockingly KO'd long-time champion Irvin Buhlalu for the South African title three months ago and the local man had just 15 professional fights under his belt going into this first defense.

In stark contrast, challenger Malinga was the very picture of experience, having double the bouts of the champion and having shared the ring with such luminaries as Alex Arthur, Mzonke Fana, Isaac Hlatswayo among others.

In addition, Malinga's nickname of "The Hammer" had been well-earned as only one man over the lightweight's 15 victories since 1998 had survived the distance.

It was a mismatch from the start as Malinga had no trouble walking through Baloyi's best shots and the champion didn't have the footwork to keep the challenger at a distance.

The only thing that kept Baloyi in the game was a big heart and a chin that had to absorb a frightening amount of punishment from the heavy-handed Malinga. More...

By Bongani Magasela

courtesy The Sowetan

The internationally acclaimed Branco Sports Productions (BSP) of top promoter Branco Milenkovic has pitted local fighters against the best in the world in the past three years. More...

By Mesuli Zifo

After the boxing extravaganza featuring the world title between Cassius Baloyi and Mzonke Fana in Mafikeng, the next stop will be East London. This was revealed by fight promoter Branco Milenkovic, who staged the gigantic show in Mafikeng. More...

By Mesuli Zifo

Cassius Baloyi made history when he broke his own record by claiming his sixth world title at Mafikeng University Sports Complex in North West on Saturday night. He dethroned Mzonke Fana to win the International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior-lightweight title. More...

Aside from the higher profile action we've covered on SaddoBoxing already, there were some important fights across the globe this Saturday.

Going alphabetically by county this time, we kick off things at The Supporter's Club in Cessnock, Australia where hometown hero Ben Crampton, 21-1-1 (10), bounced back from his defeat at the hands of "Dazzing" Darren Barker for the Commonwealth Middleweight crown last November by securing the vacant IBO Asia Pacific Super Middle belt with a second round KO of Thai battler Plaisakda Singwancha, 35-15 (29).

At the Jahnsportforum in Neubrandenberg, Germany, European Middleweight Champion Sebastian Sylvester, 29-2 (14), picked up the biggest win of his career by dramatically stopping former middleweight and light middle world champion Javier Castillejo, 62-8 (43), in the twelfth and final round. This may be the end of a long and proud career for the Spaniard, who was dominated by Sylvester from the sixth frame onward. More...