Mabuza Gets Big Test against Carvajal.

South African bantamweight phenomenon Silence Mabuza has ripped through seventeen straight opponents, knocked out fifteen of them and has yet to lose. But he has never faced a fighter the caliber of Mexican terror Cruz Carvajal, a dangerous former WBO and Mexican champion. That will all change on Friday night when Mabuza puts his IBO belt on the line against Carvajal at the Plaza Hotel in Las Vegas. Mabuza won the IBO title over three years ago by stopping Colombian puncher Jose Sanjuanelo in six rounds, and has defended his crown five times against respectable competition including former European champion Noel Wilders, and most recently against Eric “The Maverick” Barcelona last November.

Carvajal, 25-12-1 (21), is much better than his winning percentage leads you to believe. The man from Vera Cruz, Mexico went through matchmaking hell and shared the ring with Johnny Bredahl, Lehlohonolo Ledwaba, Fernando Montiel, Nestor Garza and Samson Dutch Boy Gym among others. Carvajal’s fortunes changed four years ago when he won the Mexican title, and two fights later, he secured the WBO trophy by stopping Mauricio Martinez in nine rounds. Danny Romero, Steve Dotse and Gerardo Espinoza were next to feel the force of Carvajal’s fury as each was finished inside the distance.

Trouble came in the form of sixty three-fight veteran Ratanachai Sor Vorapin a year ago, as the WBO champion went to Thailand for his third defense but came back home belt-less; Vorapin out-boxed Carvajal by wide margins to take a unanimous decision. Undaunted, the Mexican took his power-punching style to California this past March where he outgunned quality opponent Jorge Lacierva within six torrid rounds to set up this IBO title challenge against Mabuza.

Is Silence Mabuza the real deal? Will Carvajal be too experienced for the South African?

The answers will not come easy, but by Friday night sometime before midnight we will see if Mabuza will keep the aggressive approach he used to destroy Noel Wilders. If so, a fight of the year contest could result, but opponents usually do not last long trading punches with Carvajal. The South African may use his reach advantage and boxing skills to try to out-box the former WBO champion, who throws each punch with fight ending intentions.

One thing is for sure; the landscape of the bantamweight division will change with the outcome of this important match-up.

Richard Eberline can be reached at richardeberline@fastmail.fm