South African boxer Ricardo Malajika retained his International Boxing Organisation (IBO) junior-bantamweight title after he outpointed Marcel Braithwaite from the United Kingdom at the Emperor’s Palace in Kempton Park on Friday evening.
All three judges unanimously agreed that Malajila had done enough to defeat the Liverpudlian as their score cards read 120-108.
Fighting for the first time under new trainer Manny Fernandes after separating from Vusi Mtolo earlier this year, Malajika left it until the later rounds of the fight to show some class as he beat Braithwaite at will.
Meanwhile, Shaun Potgieter became the new South African heavyweight champion after he dethroned Keaton Gomes with an 11th round stoppage in the main supporting bout.
This was sweet revenge for Potgieter, who was stopped in the first round by Gomes when they first fought in March 2022.
