Lamati was involved in many fights as a schoolboy, which led a friend of his to bring him to a boxing gym to introduce him to the sport.[3] He received a scholarship to train at the gym when he was 13.[3] Lamati had over 100 amateur bouts, losing just ten of them.[3] He competed at the 2011 World Championships, where he lost his first fight against Francisco Torrijos of Spain,[4] as well as the 2011 All-Africa Games.[3]
Professional career
Lamati made his professional debut on 10 April 2014, defeating Bongani Bhuti on points in Johannesburg. After compiling a 9–0–1 record, he outpointed Innocent Mantengu in December 2016 for the vacant African super bantamweight title.[5] In his next fight, Lamati upset veteran Bongani Mahlangu for the South African super bantamweight title.[6] He defeated former world title challenger Luis Meléndez three months later to capture the vacant IBF Inter-Continental super bantamweight title, and successfully defended it against Alexis Boureima Kabore that December.[7] In July 2018 Lamati signed a promotional deal with Southampton-based Siesta Boxing Promotions (SBP).[7] He only fought once in England during his stint there, however, beating late replacement Brayan Mairena on a SBP-promoted card in Bracknell on Saint Patrick's Day 2019.[8] He made his return to South Africa on 28 July 2019, headlining a Rumble Africa Promotions event against Richie Mepranum for the vacant IBF Inter-Continental super bantamweight title.[9] Lamati outboxed the southpaw veteran, forcing a corner retirement before the start of the 11th round to claim the IBF Inter-Continental belt for the second time.[10]
Although he didn't fight in 2020,[11] Lamati reached as high as number four in the WBC divisional rankings.[12] He signed with South African promoter Rodney Berman of Golden Gloves Boxing in January 2021.[13] On 19 June 2021, Lamati defeated José Martín Estrada García by majority decision in Kempton Park to claim the vacant IBO super bantamweight title, with the judge's scorecards reading 116–112, 115–113, 114–114.[14]
Lamati faced Haidari Mchanjo on 22 May 2022, following a near year-long absence from the sport.[15] He won the fight by unanimous decision, with two scorecards of 100–90 and one scorecard of 97–92.[16] Lamati next faced Ken Jordan on 2 October 2022. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 98–93, 98–92 and 98–92.[17] As he struggled to make the bantamweight limit against Jordan, Lamati moved up to super bantamweight for his next bout, against Mark Anthony Geraldo on 17 November 2022.[18] He won the fight by a fourth-round knockout.[19]