FIGHT-STARVED yet fearsome boxer Moruti "Babyface" Mthalane successfully dusted off the cobwebs against Renz Rosia in Durban on Saturday night.

The IBO flyweight champion treated Rosia so cruelly that Mthalane will be declared public enemy No 1 in the Philippines.

Mthalane, under the guidance of accomplished trainer Nick "Mthakathi" Durandt, pummelled Rosia into submission. The challenger did not come out of his corner going for the 10th round, confirming Mthalane's 21st stoppage win from 32 victories, against two defeats.

Mthalane, a former undefeated IBF holder from Lindelani in KwaZulu-Natal, had last fought in October last year when he registered the first defence of his belt with a unanimous points decision against Mexican Odilon Zaleta, also in Durban.

Said Durandt: "It is interesting that Rosia lost by a questionable decision to Makazole Tete in East London. Remember, it is the same Makazole who had been calling out Mthalane.

"We offered him the fight but he chickened out and instead moved up to the junior bantamweight division. What happened on Saturday night answer the question of [what the result of] a showdown between Moruti and Makazole [would be]."

Durandt called on the management of WBA and IBO strawweight champion Hekkie "Hexecutioner" Budler to put their highly rated charge in a fight Durandt believed would be a super bout against Mthalane.

"He does not have to worry about his belts because we will meet him at catchweight.

"We just want to prove that Moruti is the top fighter in South Africa currently," Durandt said.

But Trainer Colin "Nomakanjani" Nathan poured cold water on the prospect of that fight taking place.

"Mthalane adds no value and we have no interest in fighting him," he said.