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MTHALANE A WORTHY CHALLENGER TO DONAIRE By Ronnie Nathanielsz PhilBoxing.com Fri, 10 Oct 2008  South Africa?s Moruti Mthalane who is handled by well-known WBC ?International Promoter of the Year? Branco Milenkovic is bound to prove a worthy challenger to IBF flyweight champion Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire when they clash at the Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel and Casino on November 1. www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports previewed a DVD of Mthalane?s lopsided twelve round decision over Australia?s Hussein Hussein at the Jan Smuts Stadium in East London last July 5 in which the little South African completely dominated the bigger Hussein Hussein who was supposed to engage Donaire in a title fight in Dubai last April but which was called off due to financial constraints. Mthalane has a record of 15 knockouts in 22 wins with only one loss but while he did show aggressiveness all throughout the fight with Hussein Hussein and nailed the Aussie with a number of rapid-fire combinations, he didn?t seem to have great punching power. However, he moved well, three punches from all angles and maintained the same relentless attack from the opening bell to the last round indicating he was a superbly conditioned fighter. Besides his hand speed, Mthalane also showed fine defensive skills and although Hussein Hussein did catch him with a couple of shots to the side of the body as well as a couple of uppercuts, the South African was never hurt and often danced out of trouble. Donaire (19-1, 12 KO?s) who is from the same hometown as Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao ? General Santos City ? says ?I?ve worked too hard to earn this title and there is no way I?m letting anyone take it away from me.? The smart young Filipino said ? (Moruti) Mthalane is going back to South Africa without the only souvenir he craves most ? my world championship belt.? Mthalane is making his US debut on the crest of a three-year, ten-bout winning streak, eight of which were by way of knockout. Milenkovic has assured www.insidesports, Manila Standard and Viva Sports that Mthalane is a worthy challenger and will give Donaire the fight of his life. Mthalane said the title fight against Donaire is his first out of South Africa and he intends ?to make the most of it. I?m going to be in the middle of the ring and Donaire will not have a problem finding me. Let?s see how he handles my pressure when he does.? Mthalane has fought only one Filipino ? a badly overmatched Apol Suico whom he stopped in 2 minute 22 seconds of the first round in Johannesburg to win the vacant WBC International flyweight title on September 29, 2007. Well known boxing writer/columnist Ron Jackson reported that the South African flyweight champion drove home two crunching rights to put the Filipino on the canvas even before some of the spectators at the Park Station venue had a good look at either fighter. Suico complained about a low blow shortly before he was knocked down but veteran referee Daniel van de Wiele saw what most ringsiders saw: a low left that almost failed to reach the visitor's trunks and certainly did no damage. Moments later Mthalane moved Suico into a corner, measured the distance with the left and landed the knockout blows with the right. Jackson said the fight was over too quickly for the 24-year-old Mthalane to show the skills he will need in fights against better opponents and for bigger titles and more money. However, he showed pleasing ability to finish a fight. Mthalane is regarded as one of South Africa ?s most talented fighters and he certainly showed it against Hussein Hussein who, in our assessment, possibly won only the seventh round which was close. Otherwise, it was a shutout by Mthalane. Mthalane won the national flyweight title in August last year when he stopped Akhona Aliva in the sixth round. He has made two successful defences, against Zamumzi Xola and Xola Sifama, with both wins inside the distance. The only loss on his record was in September 2004 when he challenged Nkqubela Gwazela for the SA flyweight title. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.  |
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