Boxing In South Africa: Baloyi Defends IBF Title At Emperor’s Palace

IBF Super Featherweight Champion Cassius Baloyi made the first defense of his crown a successful one as he snuffed out the aspirations of Argentine visitor Javier Osvaldo Alvarez in the third round of their scheduled twelve round title fight last night at Emperor’s Palace in Kempton Park.

Baloyi outgunned the challenger from the first bell and mounted a superb two handed assault that had Alvarez reeling by the second round when he was put on the canvas on two occasions.

The third was no better for the 31 year old “El Vikingo” as he started the round still hurt and continued to eat leather until hitting the floor again and prompting a referee stoppage at 0:28 of the frame.

Baloyi hasn’t lost in over two years and runs his record to 36-3-1 (19) while Alvarez loses his second world title fight, dropping to 35-8-1 (16).

On the undercard, super middle Isaac Chilembe, 12-1 (8), outpointed former Commonwealth Champion Charles Adamu, 16-4 (12), after twelve rounds of combat to capture the vacant ABU belt.

On Friday at the Multipurpose Centre in Kestell, bantamweight Bongani Mahlangu, 10-1 (5), decisioned Martin Mubiru, 3-1 (2), to retain the WBA Pan African title.

Southpaw Gideon Buthelezi, 7-2 (2), lost his South African Minimumweight title when he was stopped in the sixth frame by ex-WBC International champ Tshepo Lefele, 15-3 (9).