Bongani Magasela
Bongani Magasela
Five.
That is the new description of professional fighter Cassius "Hitman" Baloyi.
He earned it on Saturday night after rewriting history books at Emperors Palace.
He became the first-ever local prize fighter to win five world titles in three different weight divisions.
The skeletal fighter from Giyani in Limpopo, whose skills are honed in Gauteng by Nick Durandt, is a former WBU junior feather, feather, IBO and IBF junior lightweight holder.
He achieved that feat after stopping Nazareno Ruiz in three rounds in the process, reclaimed the IBO belt Baloyi forfeited when he lost his IBF belt to Gairy St Clair in July last year.
The IBO belt was declared vacant after St Clair, from Guyana, in the north east of South America, had been dethroned as the IBF holder by Malcom Klassen on November 11 last year.
Baloyi, who was cheered on by Nelson Mandela among a hoard of big-name politicians and celebrities, looked like a million dollar.
Both gladiators went hammer and tong from the outset and Baloyi was cut above his left eye in the second round.
He fought furiously like a man possessed in the third round.
A well-timed left uppercut to the jaw lifted Ruiz off the canvas before he hit the ground.
The Argentinian got up but paid dearly for his meaningless bravery. Baloyi delivered a barrage of blows which forced referee Terry O'Connor to intervene in a minute and six seconds.
Earlier on, Mpush "Lion King" Makambi roared to oblivion after being badly vanquished by Peter Mashamaite.
Makambi turned his back in the fifth round against the IBO Intercontinmental super middleweight champion.
Meanwhil,e Khotso Motau needed only a minute and five seconds to dispose of Xolani Ngemntu and retain his national middleweight belt.
Ludumo Galada won the vacant SA junior featherweight with a unanimous points decision over Sydney Maluleka. These fights were staged by Golden Gloves.
Baloyi rewrites history books with his fith title
Bongani Magasela
Bongani Magasela
Five.
That is the new description of professional fighter Cassius "Hitman" Baloyi.
He earned it on Saturday night after rewriting history books at Emperors Palace.
He became the first-ever local prize fighter to win five world titles in three different weight divisions.
The skeletal fighter from Giyani in Limpopo, whose skills are honed in Gauteng by Nick Durandt, is a former WBU junior feather, feather, IBO and IBF junior lightweight holder.
He achieved that feat after stopping Nazareno Ruiz in three rounds in the process, reclaimed the IBO belt Baloyi forfeited when he lost his IBF belt to Gairy St Clair in July last year.
The IBO belt was declared vacant after St Clair, from Guyana, in the north east of South America, had been dethroned as the IBF holder by Malcom Klassen on November 11 last year.
Baloyi, who was cheered on by Nelson Mandela among a hoard of big-name politicians and celebrities, looked like a million dollar.
Both gladiators went hammer and tong from the outset and Baloyi was cut above his left eye in the second round.
He fought furiously like a man possessed in the third round.
A well-timed left uppercut to the jaw lifted Ruiz off the canvas before he hit the ground.
The Argentinian got up but paid dearly for his meaningless bravery. Baloyi delivered a barrage of blows which forced referee Terry O'Connor to intervene in a minute and six seconds.
Earlier on, Mpush "Lion King" Makambi roared to oblivion after being badly vanquished by Peter Mashamaite.
Makambi turned his back in the fifth round against the IBO Intercontinmental super middleweight champion.
Meanwhil,e Khotso Motau needed only a minute and five seconds to dispose of Xolani Ngemntu and retain his national middleweight belt.
Ludumo Galada won the vacant SA junior featherweight with a unanimous points decision over Sydney Maluleka. These fights were staged by Golden Gloves.