Dropped in each round before fight referee Lulama Mtya intervened and stopped his clash against Siyabulela ‘Showtime’ Hem at the Orient Theatre in East London on Saturday evening, Bongani ‘Wonderboy’ Mahlangu still refuses to quit the fistic sport, insisting that he still has it in him to continue fighting.
Mahlangu, who is 45 years old, really showed that he’s on the wrong side in as far as age is concerned. His defence was weak as Hem landed his blows at will, decking him thrice something which forced Mtya to stop the rematch of the South African junior-featherweight title in the third round.
“I lost the fight and I don’t know what really happened. I suspect muti was used against me,” Mahlangu, who had won the SA junior-featherweight title twice, said.
The Boipatong-born Mahlangu, who was stopped by a 21-year-old Hem, added: “I’m not giving up, I’m not retiring. I told Hem that I was coming back after my three months suspension. I know I can still do it.”
Following the loss, the 2004 Olympian dropped to 26 victories with 14 stoppages and 12 losses. And Mahlangu has now lost his last three fights. – Monwabisi Jimlongo
