JEFFREY Mathebula outgunned Takalani Ndlovu at Carnival City on Saturday night, but he still needed a split decision to capture the IBF junior-featherweight crown.

Mathebula had been robbed in a previous tilt at this belt in Panama in 2009, losing on a controversial split decision, and Saturday's was almost as controversial because Mathebula deserved to win unanimously.

Judges Neville Hotz and Jaap van Niewenhuizen scored it 117-111 and 116-112 for Mathebula, but Alf Buqwana gave it to Ndlovu 116-112. The Sowetan-Times-etc had it 116-113 for Mathebula, who has been involved in split decisions in four of his last six bouts (Ndlovu's had three in his last four contests).

Mathebula, 32, improved his record to 26 wins, three defeats and two draws while Ndlovu, 34, dropped to 33-7.

Mathebula, who competed at the 2000 Olympics, is the fifth South African to have held this belt, after Welcome Ncita, Vuyani Bungu, Lehlohonolo Ledwaba and Ndlovu.

Ndlovu owned the centre of the ring and set the pace for much of the fight, but Mathebula won the skirmishes, landing more blows thanks to his superior hand speed.

Only in the final two rounds did he press the attack, landing overarm right-hand leads that no self-respecting boxer would normally allow himself to get hit by.

But by that point Nlovu's left eye was nearly swollen shut and his legs were cramping so badly that after the bell ended the 11th round it took him some 10 seconds before he could make the few short steps to his corner.

Mathebula, who left the ring with a swollen right eye, said afterwards: "I told South Africa I'm cute, I'm smart. And indeed I am."

Trainer Nick Durandt, who also handles promising junior-featherweights Simphiwe Vetyeka and Macbute Sinyabi, rejected suggestions that Mathebula could face either of his stablemates, as happened some years back between Cassius Baloyi and Malcolm Klassen.

Promoter Branco Milenkovic had said before the bout that the winner might go into a unification fight, but Durandt said Mathebula was entitled to a voluntary defence and that's the route he'd probably take.

"It's time to raise the bank balance," he stated, but added: "Unifications don't come along very often. We would take it only if the offer was right."

In the main undercard fight, Patrick Malinga failed to reclaim his SA lightweight belt, losing a split decision to Thompson Mokwana over 12 tough rounds.

Malinga, who was stopped in the seventh round by Mokwana a year ago, attacked relentlessly and late in the sixth round had his opponent reeling on the ropes.

He was shattered on hearing the result, sinking to his knees in despair as Mokwana and trainer Manny Fernandes celebrated.