Thulani Malinga

Thulani Malinga
Born (1955-12-11) 11 December 1955 (age 69)
Ladysmith, South Africa
NationalitySouth African
Other namesSugar Boy
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 9+1⁄2 in (177 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights57
Wins44
Wins by KO19
Losses13

Thulani Malinga (born 11 December 1955) is a South African former professional boxer who competed from 1981 to 2000, and held the WBC super-middleweight title twice between 1996 and 1998.[1]

Professional career

Known as "Sugar Boy", Malinga turned pro in 1981 after compiling an amateur record of 185–10. He began his career with a first-round stoppage of Victor Zulu on 8 August 1981. Malinga held several championship titles during a twenty-year career as a middleweight, super middleweight and light heavyweight, fighting memorable bouts against Nigel Benn, Chris Eubank and Roy Jones Jr., among others.

In 1989 he got his first shot at a title, taking on undefeated IBF super middleweight title holder Graciano Rocchigiani. Malinga lost a decision, and the next year took on Lindell Holmes, again for the IBF super middleweight title. He again lost via decision, and in 1992 got a shot at the WBO super middleweight title against Chris Eubank, during which Malinga was dropped in the fifth round and lost a close decision. Three months later he was also to lose a close decision—by just half a point—against Nigel Benn. After many fights in his native South Africa, and a further KO loss to Roy Jones Jr. in the U.S., he landed another shot at the title in March 1996 against Benn, who was now the WBC super middleweight champion. Despite suffering a knockdown, Malinga scored an upset against Benn to win the title, but ended up losing the title in his first defense against Vincenzo Nardiello. He regained the title in his next fight, a decision win over Robin Reid (who had defeated Nardiello in his first defense of the title). However, he would again lose the belt in his first defense against Richie Woodhall, via decision. He fought four more times, retiring after a suffering an eighth-round TKO against Ole Klemetsen on 14 January 2000, finishing his career with 44 wins (20 by KO) and 13 losses. His trainer was Nick Durandt.[2]

Professional boxing record

57 fights 44 wins 13 losses
By knockout 19 3
By decision 25 9
By disqualification 0 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
57 Loss 44–13 Ole Klemetsen TKO 8 (12), 2:40 14 Jan 2000 Koldinghallerne, Kolding, Denmark For vacant IBA light-heavyweight title
56 Loss 44–12 Mads Larsen TKO 10 (12) 19 Mar 1999 Falkoner Center, Copenhagen, Denmark Lost WBF (Federation) super-middleweight title;
For IBO super-middleweight title
55 Win 44–11 Peter H Madsen RTD 8 (12), 3:00 27 Nov 1998 Vejlby-Risskov Hallen, Aarhus, Denmark Retained WBF (Federation) super-middleweight title
54 Win 43–11 Fredrik Alvarez TKO 11 (12) 5 Jun 1998 K.B. Hallen, Copenhagen, Denmark Won WBF (Federation) super-middleweight title
53 Loss 42–11 Richie Woodhall UD 12 27 Mar 1998 Ice Rink, Telford, England Lost WBC super-middleweight title
52 Win 42–10 Robin Reid UD 12 19 Dec 1997 London Arena, London, England Won WBC super-middleweight title
51 Loss 41–10 Vincenzo Nardiello SD 12 6 Jul 1996 NYNEX Arena, Manchester, England Lost WBC super-middleweight title
50 Win 41–9 Nigel Benn SD 12 2 Mar 1996 Telewest Arena, Newcastle, England Won WBC super-middleweight title
49 Win 40–9 Trevor Ambrose PTS 8 22 Jul 1995 London Arena, London, England
48 Win 39–9 Soon Botes TKO 7 (12) 4 Mar 1995 Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, South Africa Won South African super-middleweight title
47 Win 38–9 Martin Opperman TKO 9 (12) 20 Nov 1994 Wembley Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa Retained South African light-heavyweight title
46 Win 37–9 Ray Acquaye TKO 5 (12) 14 Aug 1994 Hotel Casino, Wild Coast, South Africa Won vacant African super-middleweight title
45 Win 36–9 Mohammed Isaacs KO 7 (12) 20 Feb 1994 Nasrec Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa Retained South African light-heavyweight title
44 Loss 35–9 Roy Jones Jr. KO 6 (10), 1:57 14 Aug 1993 Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, US
43 Win 35–8 Gary Ballard UD 12 10 Feb 1993 City Hall, Durban, South Africa Retained South African light-heavyweight title
42 Win 34–8 Jim Murray MD 12 14 Sep 1992 Nasrec Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa Retained South African light-heavyweight title
41 Loss 33–8 Nigel Benn PTS 10 23 May 1992 National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, England
40 Loss 33–7 Chris Eubank SD 12 1 Feb 1992 National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, England For WBO super-middleweight title
39 Win 33–6 Leonard Friedman UD 10 13 Aug 1991 Morula Sun Casino, Mabopane, South Africa
38 Loss 32–6 Lindell Holmes UD 12 15 Dec 1990 Palazzo del Ghiaccio, Marino, Italy For IBF super-middleweight title
37 Win 32–5 Sakkie Horn PTS 12 11 Oct 1990 Nasrec Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa Won South African light-heavyweight title
36 Loss 31–5 John Jarvis MD 12 5 Aug 1990 Barranquilla, Colombia For IBF Inter-Continental super-middleweight title
35 Win 31–4 Tony Harrison UD 10 29 Jan 1990 FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa
34 Win 30–4 Oscar Pena UD 10 5 Dec 1989 FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa
33 Win 29–4 Jose Quinones TKO 8 (10) 21 Oct 1989 San Juan, Puerto Rico
32 Win 28–4 Vincent Boulware MD 10 18 Sep 1989 Portuguese Hall, Johannesburg, South Africa
31 Win 27–4 Nicky Walker UD 10 27 May 1989 Superbowl, Sun City, South Africa
30 Win 26–4 Mike Peak UD 10 11 Mar 1989 Indoor Centre, Springs, South Africa
29 Loss 25–4 Graciano Rocchigiani UD 12 27 Jan 1989 Deutschlandhalle, West Berlin, West Germany For IBF super-middleweight title
28 Win 25–3 Larry Musgrove SD 10 18 Jul 1988 West Ridge Park Tennis Stadium, Durban, South Africa
27 Win 24–3 Jim MacDonald UD 10 7 Mar 1988 Oppenheimer Stadium, Orkney, South Africa
26 Win 23–3 Harry Cowap UD 10 1 Feb 1988 Standard Bank Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa
25 Loss 22–3 Sakkie Horn DQ 12 (12) 21 Nov 1987 Indoor Centre, Springs, South Africa For South African light-heavyweight title;
Malinga disqualified for an intentional low blow
24 Win 22–2 Prince Tukane TKO 4 (10) 18 Oct 1987 City Hall, East London, South Africa
23 Loss 21–2 Sakkie Horn SD 12 9 May 1987 Far North Rugby Stadium, Pietersburg, South Africa Lost South African light-heavyweight title
22 Win 21–1 Freddie Rafferty UD 12 15 Dec 1986 West Ridge Park Tennis Stadium, Durban, South Africa Retained South African light-heavyweight title
21 Win 20–1 Sakkie Horn PTS 12 19 Oct 1986 Portuguese Hall, Johannesburg, South Africa Won South African light-heavyweight title
20 Win 19–1 Gregory Clark UD 12 28 Jun 1986 Eldorado Park Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa Retained South African middleweight title
19 Win 18–1 Pieter de Bruin TKO 8 (12) 8 Mar 1986 Crown Mines Showgrounds, Johannesburg, South Africa Retained South African middleweight title
18 Win 17–1 Kosie van Vuuren RTD 10 (12) 14 Dec 1985 Currie's Fountain, Durban, South Africa Retained South African middleweight title
17 Win 16–1 Pieter de Bruin PTS 6 27 Jul 1985 Superbowl, Sun City, South Africa
16 Win 15–1 Frankie Decaestecker RTD 5 22 Jun 1985 Bleskop Stadium, Rustenburg, South Africa
15 Win 14–1 Robert Madi TKO 8 (8) 20 Apr 1985 Currie's Fountain, Durban, South Africa
14 Win 13–1 Gavin Stirrup KO 2 (10) 15 Mar 1985 Riverlea Hall, Johannesburg, South Africa
13 Win 12–1 Mwehu Beya RTD 6 (10) 26 Oct 1984 Riverlea Hall, Johannesburg, South Africa
12 Win 11–1 Michael Motsoane UD 12 15 Jun 1984 Riverlea Hall, Johannesburg, South Africa Retained South African middleweight title
11 Win 10–1 Prince Tukane PTS 8 1 May 1984 West Ridge Park Tennis Stadium, Durban, South Africa
10 Win 9–1 John Diamini KO 4 (10) 27 Feb 1984 City Hall, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
9 Win 8–1 Samson Mohloai UD 12 7 Feb 1983 West Ridge Park Tennis Stadium, Durban, South Africa Won vacant South African middleweight title
8 Win 7–1 David Kalako PTS 6 4 Oct 1982 West Ridge Park Tennis Stadium, Durban, South Africa
7 Win 6–1 Shadrack Sithole KO 2 (10) 13 Sep 1982 City Hall, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa Won Natal middleweight title
6 Win 5–1 Graham Mdingi RTD 2 (6) 28 Aug 1982 Steadeville School Hall, Ladysmith, South Africa
5 Win 4–1 Morris Mohloai PTS 6 5 Jun 1982 Limit Hill Tennis Stadium, Ladysmith, South Africa
4 Loss 3–1 Patrick Tshabalala PTS 6 17 Apr 1982 Showgrounds, Ermelo, South Africa
3 Win 3–0 Werdie Jacobs KO 4 (4) 30 Nov 1981 West Ridge Park Tennis Stadium, Durban, South Africa
2 Win 2–0 Cyprian Shandu PTS 4 12 Sep 1981 Seaman's Institute Hall, Durban, South Africa
1 Win 1–0 Victor Zulu TKO 1 (4) 8 Aug 1981 Seaman's Institute Hall, Durban, South Africa Professional debut

References

  1. ^ "Thulani Malinga defied age to lift WBF title". The Sowetan. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  2. ^ Staff Reporter (22 April 2017). "Tributes pour in for boxing legend Nick Durandt". Enca.com. Archived from the original on 7 January 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Bruce McIntyre 		South African
middleweight champion
7 February 1983 – October 1986
Vacated 		Vacant
Title next held by
Gregory Clark
Preceded by
Sakkie Horn
 South African
light-heavyweight champion
19 October 1986 – 9 May 1987 		Succeeded by
Sakkie Horn
Preceded by
Sakkie Horn
 South African
light-heavyweight champion
11 October 1990 – March 1995
Vacated 		Vacant
Title next held by
Ginger Tshabalala
Inaugural champion ABU super-middleweight champion
14 August 1994 – November 1994
Vacated 		Vacant
Title next held by
Bertrand Tchandjeu
Preceded by
Soon Botes
 South African
super-middleweight champion
4 March 1995 – March 1996
Vacated 		Vacant
Title next held by
Soon Botes
Minor world boxing titles
Preceded by
Fredrik Alvarez
 WBF (Federation)
super-middleweight champion
5 June 1998 – 19 March 1999 		Succeeded by
Major world boxing titles
Preceded by WBC super-middleweight champion
2 March 1996 – 6 July 1996 		Succeeded by
Preceded by WBC super-middleweight champion
19 December 1997 – 27 March 1998 		Succeeded by
Records
Preceded by Oldest super-middleweight
world champion
Age 40
2 March 1996 – present 		Incumbent