After stopping his last three opponents, world champion Ricardo ‘Magic Man’ Malajika reckons that he’s the best South African boxer in the junior-bantamweight division.
Malajika made a successful third defence of his International Boxing Organisation (IBO) junior-bantamweight title when he stopped Filipino boxer Jayson Mama in the fifth round at the Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, on Saturday evening.
“Numbers don’t lie. Go look at the records, they will tell you that I’m the best pound for pound. No junior-bantamweight boxer is better than me here in South Africa,” Malajika remarked.
On a possible fight with former World Boxing Organisation (WBO) and South African junior-bantamweight champion Phumelela Cafu, Malajika said: “You may never know what the future holds. We might fight against each other.”
Malajika has done very well since his loss to Sikho Nqothole in April 2022. He has gone on to win eight successive fights including winning both the IBO flyweight and junior-bantamweight titles.
Speaking after Malajika’s win over Mama on Saturday, his trainer Manny Fernandes said: “The last three opponents had never been stopped before they met Ricardo. Things are happening for Ricardo because I do all the strength and conditioning. Ricardo is getting better and better.” – Monwabisi Jimlongo
A Malajika – Cafu bout would be a mega fight for SA boxing. This would help prove Malajika’s claim of being the best in the division.
Makuliweeeee!!!