Ricardo ‘Magic Man’ Malajika became the sixth South African boxer to rule in the World Boxing Council (WBC) after he defeated Japanese boxer, Tomoya Tsuboi, via a split decision away at the Toyota Arena, Koto-Ku, Tokyo on Sunday.
Following 12 rounds of action, Malajika won the vacant WBC junior-bantamweight title with American judges Nathan Palmer and David Sutherland giving him the nod by 116-112 and 115-113 respectively while Juan Carlos Pelayo from Mexico had Tsuboi winning by 115-113.
Tsuboi sustained a cut as early as the first round following an accidental clash of heads. However, that cut didn’t stop him from coming forward to attack Malajika.
The 28-year-old Malajika held on and kept hitting Tsuboi with some nice blows, especially after round six. And he upped his performance in the last three rounds something which helped him in the end.
Meanwhile, Malajika’s addition of the crown to his International Boxing Organusayoon (IBO) junior-bantamweight title means that veteran boxing trainer, Manny Fernandes, has produced two WBC champions in a space of four months having started with Siyakholwa in May.
Mdantsahe-born Kuse dethroned WBC minimumweight champion, Melvin Jerusalem, at the Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni.
