Moruti Mthalane with trainer Colin Nathan
Moruti Mthalane with trainer his Colin Nathan

South Africa’s Moruti Mthalane outboxed Muhammad Waseem on Sunday morning (SA Time) in Axiata Arena, Kuala Lumpur to become the IBF flyweight World Champion.

The fight went the full distance over 12 rounds and the victory came by way of a comfortable points margin in favour of the South African. Mthlane returned to the ring last year after more than a year out made a high-level International comeback on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Lucas Matthysse bout on Saturday Night.

The 35-year-old boxer was born 6 October 1982 in Gauteng and fights with an orthodox stance and he goes by the nickname of “Babyface” named after the legendary former SA World Champ Jacob “BabyFace” Matlala.

He’s the former IBO champion, ranked at number five by ESPN and second by Ring Magazine is now the rightful IBF titleholder! He never actually lost in the ring but forfeited the title due to ‘inactivity’ in 2014.

 

IBF champion Moruti "Babyface" Mthalane training for his fight vs Muhammad Waseem in Malaysia.
IBF champion Moruti “Babyface” Mthalane training for his fight vs Muhammad Waseem in Malaysia. (Image by Nick Lourens)

 

“I’ve spent a lot of time getting ready for this fight and I can feel the body is ready to go, – Mthalane

He told KweséESPN leading up to the fight “All I’m waiting for is the 15th so I can win.”

MATHLANE’S PRO BOXING RECORD
37 Total fights
35 Wins
24 Wins by KO
2 Losses
0 Draws

Also Read: Article in The Ring Magazine,  Moruti Mthalane’s Background, Article in Boxing Scene

 

Story By: JAY J BOTES / @jayjbotes