After making history by becoming the first boxer to stop former South African flyweight champion Jackson ‘M3’ Chauke, two-weight division world titlist Ricardo ‘Magic Man’ Malajika will make a ring return on Women’s Day.
Malajika, an International Boxing Organisation (IBO) flyweight and junior-bantamweight champion, is set to face off against Filipino boxer Jayson ‘The Smasher’ Mama in a title defence on Saturday, 9 August.
The IBO junior-bantamweight crown is going to be at stake when Malajika comes up against Mama, a former International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight title contender. Mama lost to former world champion Sunny Edwards when he challenged for the IBF flyweight crown in Dubai in December 2021.
The 26-year-old Malajika took less than six minutes to stop Chauke, who prior to meeting him hadn’t lost in a flyweight bout since April 2013. Malajika, who is on a seven-fight winning streak, has not been defeated since his loss to Sikho Nqothole at Sun City, Rustenburg, in April 2022.
“There’s a fight lined up against Mama. But there could be another fight in Guyana as well,” Malajika’s trainer Manny Fernandes said.
Malajika has registered 15 victories with 11 stoppages and two losses since making his professional debut with a victory over Nkululeko Mnisi at the Emperor’s Palace in October 2018.
On the other hand, the 27-year-old Mama from the General Santos City in the Philippines has won 20 fights with 10 stoppages, two losses and a draw. – Monwabisi Jimlongo
