IBO: World’s junior bantam champion Malijika in first defence against unpredictable Brit since winning title in December

By Sports Reporter

Ricardo Malijika, a professional boxer from South Hills in Johannesburg South, recently secured the International Boxing Organisation’s (IBO) world title.

The victory came in a hard-fought match against Kevin Luis Munoz from Argentina at the Golden Gloves promotion tournament held at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park. Malijika won via a unanimous points decision. The win adds another accolade to his impressive career and brings pride to the south of Johannesburg.

The SA pugilist began his boxing journey at the tender age of seven, inspired by his big brother, whose daily jogging outside their apartment windows captivated the youngster. One day, Malijika decided to join his brother, and soon history began to unfold.

Malijika marked his rise in the boxing world through multiple weight division SA Championships when an amateur. Now, as the new IBO world champion, he continues to carry the torch for Johannesburg South.  Expressing gratitude for his achievements, Malijika acknowledged the support and opportunities provided by key figures in his career. He thanked Golden Gloves promotions, especially Rodney Barman and his managers, Brian Mitchell and his wife, and coaches Vusi and Lucky for their crucial roles.

For Malijika, being a world champion is more than a personal win; it is an opportunity to inspire and be a role model in his community.

“Growing up in South Hills, my brothers and I were known as local boxers. We were role models for many in our community, inspiring them to pursue their dreams. Drawing from my experiences in the amateur ranks, I believe hard work and dedication are the keys to success. I attribute my achievements to the principle that effort yields results.

This philosophy has been my guiding light, propelling me from my early days in the ring to my current status as the IBO world champion.

“Looking ahead, I am grateful for the recognition of my hard work and am committed to continue to strive for excellence. I promised my manager, Uncle Brian, that I would surpass his record of being a 14-time world champion. I know this will require a tremendous amount of work, but I am dedicated to achieving this goal. I want to assure my friends, family, team, and supporters that I will work tirelessly to make this a reality,” said Malijika.

Come April 5 Malijika will have another opportunity of making his dream come true when he defends his IBO junior bantamweight belt against UK’s Michel Braitwhaite at the at Emperor’s Palace main event of the night.

The seven-cards event will also see Cape Town boxer  Juan Roux will return to the scene of his best result when he takes on Chris Thompson in an intriguing showdown at Emperors Palace. In 2021, he was the underdog against Wilhelm Nebe, the giant from North West, but chopped him down in impressive style at the famous casino venue.

Roux is positive he’ll have Thompson’s number, not least because he sees himself as a better heavyweight. He’s also dealt with bad hands, having recently had two bone fusion surgeries on his right hand that have infused him with confidence.

“I’m stronger than ever,” he says. “It’s soon time to go to work.”

LESS IRON IN MIKE’S TRAINING VIDEOS

TRAINS HARD:  Critics are questioning the legitimacy of the footage on social media showing Tyson sending a flurry of blows to his trainer and in top shape

By Sports Reporter

Ring legend Mike Tyson and YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul are set to lock horns in a history-making fight. This summer blockbuster is set to be streamed live globally on Netflix, marking the platform’s first foray into live boxing.

The 58-year-old Tyson will take on the 30-year-old Paul in the upcoming boxing battle. The highly-anticipated bout will take place on Saturday, July 20, 2024.

Ticket prices are expected to be competitive with 80,000+ seats available, ensuring a large following for the bout. Are there any rules for the Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson match?

Although the rules haven’t been completely set, organisers said headgear won’t be worn. Negotiations are in the early stages to make it an official professional match, but the final decision will be made by the Texas Commission.

Earlier speaking about his match, Tyson said, “I’m very much looking forward to stepping into the ring with Jake Paul. He’s grown significantly as a boxer over the years, so it will be a lot of fun to see what the will and ambition of a ‘kid’ can do with the experience and aptitude of a GOAT. It’s a full circle moment that will be beyond thrilling to watch.”

This is Paul’s most anticipated fight of 2024 and second of the year, after stunning knockouts of professional boxers Ryan Bourland and Golden Gloves winner Andre in August this month and December 2023 respectively.

Tyson appears to be taking his fight against Jake Paul incredibly seriously, with the boxing legend sharing multiple videos of his rigorous training to social media.

Some, however, are questioning the legitimacy of the footage which has drawn the ire of many fans, largely due to Tyson’s health concerns. The 57-year-old, who will turn 58 less than a month before stepping into the ring, was seen using a support cane and wheelchair as recently as 2022.

Tyson attempted to partially quell these worries by posting daily clips giving an inside look into his training. ‘Iron Mike’ appears in great shape, often throwing a flurry of powerful punches to the hands and midsection of his trainer in the short videos.

But several fighters quickly came crawling out of the woodwork to critique Tyson’s workouts. “In the future, if you’re ever going to spend five seconds hitting mitts, as a way of making the audience believe you’re doing a training session, make sure you splash water on your face and T-shirt first,” former UFC star.

Ex-boxing world champion Paulie Malignaggi, meanwhile, wondered if the footage was old. “I got to say man, I’m not sure where Tyson is with his motivation,” Malignaggi told Lord Ping. “I don’t know how recent the videos are because I spoke to some people who were with Tyson not that long ago and he didn’t look the most active, I don’t know if the video reel is recent or just created to create headlines.

“I don’t know if it’s a recent video of him hitting the pads to tell you the truth because I saw some people not long ago, in the last couple of months, and he was very chilled out. He was not discussing anything physical.”

Doctor Stephen Hughes raised further concerns about Tyson’s health, insisting that his longtime battle with alcoholism could increase the likelihood of suffering brain damage. “The immediate effects may be minimal; the boxer may simply recover. But on some occasions, the effects may be devastating,” Hughes wrote for the Conversation.

But Rafael Cordeiro, Tyson’s coach, quickly dispelled the doctor’s warning. “I believe we don’t have to be concerned about it. We’re talking about a two-time world champion,” he said on The MMA Hour.

“The guy didn’t have 20 fights in two years, he knows how to fight. He’s fought against the best guys in the world. When he steps inside the ring he knows what to do. It’s not something new for Mike, and this fight is no different.

“He works hard every single day to go in there and try to knock Jake out from the beginning to the end. This is his style, nobody has [to] teach Mike Tyson how to fight. He’s going to prove that in July. You can see fire in his eyes when he trains, and he will never give less than that.”