Bongani Magasela

Bongani Magasela

Vu'Umuzi Malinga boxed his way closer to being considered for the WBC title when the fourth-ranked, left-handed fighter from Ekurhuleni retained his WBC International bantamweight title against Alberto Rossel at Nasrec Arena in Johannesburg at the weekend.

Malinga pulverised the Filipino to submission in five rounds. Rossel, who kissed the canvas early in that round, absorbed a barrage of combinations that deposited him to the canvass again.

This time Rossel, who had impressed in the first and fourth rounds with power punches, remained down and was counted out by referee Andrew Smale.

Malinga chalked up a successful second defence and improved his fight record to 16 wins, two losses and a draw, while Rossel suffered the seventh defeat from 29 fights.

Earlier, Evans Mbamba retained his WBC International junior bantamweight belt after stopping Alberto Cardinas in the 11th round.

Mbamba, from Ekurhuleni, also retained his unblemished record of 15 wins from as many fights, while Cardinas dropped to four defeats from 13 fights.

Malinga's elder brother Patrick hammered his namesake Masango into oblivion in two rounds. This was after they had exchanged heavy leather in the first round.

However, that all changed in the second round. Malinga, who appeared calmer, began boxing behind his jab and combined his punches well, driving Masango backwards.

A well-aimed swift left and right combination to the jaw jerked Masango, who hit the canvas with his face first before the body could touch the ground.

Malinga improved to 20 wins from 27 fights, while Masango dropped to nine losses from 30 fights.

Lehlohonolo Ramagole stopped Sipho Mantyi in the second round. These fights, which attracted a paltry crowd, were staged by promoter Branco Milenkovic's Branco Sports Productions.