It seems like no one is more excited and happy with Ricardo ‘Magic Man’ Malajika’s win over Japanese boxer, Tomoya Tsuboi, than his manager, Brian Mitchell, a former world champion.
Malajika wrote his name into history books as he won the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) junior-bantamweight title via a split decision at the Toyota Arena in Koto-Ku, Tokyo, Japan on Sunday. He won the title exactly 40 years after Mitchell annexed the World Boxing Association (WBA) junior-lightweight crown following a 10th round stoppage of Panamanian, Alfredo Layne, at the Sun City Superbowl in Rustenburg, North West.
The 28-year-old Malajika became the second boxer managed by Mitchell to win a WBC belt this year. Mitchell’s other boxer, Siyakholwa Kuse, won the WBC minimumweight title after he outpointed Filipino opponent, Melvin Jerusalem, at the Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, in May.
“I’m very excited. I’m so proud. In a space of four months, we created two WBC champions of the world, Siyakholwa Kuse and of course Ricardo Malajika,” Mitchell said.
“We are so proud as the Brian Mitchell Boxing Academy and we are happy for South Africa. We are happy to make history. I’m happy to be right up there with the two best fighters on the planet and the WBC.”
With his win, Malajika is now the sixth South African boxer to rule in the WBC. Kuse and Bernice Ferreira are current WBC champions with Ferreira holding the female junior-lightweight title. Previously, Thulani Malinga, the late Dingaan Thobela and Kevin Lerena ruled in the WBC.
Meanwhile, Malajika’s victory cemented Golden Gloves’ position as the best promotional outfit in South Africa as it produced two WBC champions in the same year, something that has never been done before.
And the win also made Manny Fernandes the first South African boxing trainer to produce two WBC champions in a space of four months. – Monwabisi Jimlongo
