Edenvale’s Malajika targets WBC world title
"Knowing that its going to be two of the worlds top boxers facing each other is something that I am excited for."
Edenvale boxing legend Ricardo ‘Magic Man’ Malajika is set to face Japan’s Tomoya Tsuboi for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) Super Flyweight World Championship.
Malajika departed South Africa on September 16, 11 days ahead of his bout, as he prepares to take the number-one title for the WBC Super Flyweight World Championship.
On September 15, a send-off was held for Malajika at the Edenvale-based Brian Mitchell Boxing Academy, where members of the gym, together with Boxing South Africa (BSA), Golden Gloves and members of the media, joined in the celebrations.
Malajika will go toe to toe against Tsuboi for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) Super Flyweight World Championship on September 27.
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He said he is feeling prepared for the fight.
“So far I’ve got a good feeling about the bout.
“Knowing that it’s going to be two of the world’s top boxers facing each other is something that I am excited for.”
“The Magic Man is definitely going to make magic,” said Malajika.
The 28-year-old Malajika enters the fight with a professional record of 17 wins, including 12 stoppages, and two defeats.
He is also the reigning IBO Junior Bantamweight World Champion and has successfully defended his title six times.
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Malajika has been preparing for the bout under trainer Manny Fernandes, with former world champion Brian Mitchell as his manager.
Fernandes, who told the Bedfordview and Edenvale News that training had been going well, explained that at the gym fighters ‘train hard and fight easy’.
He said failure to prepare was ‘preparing to fail’.
Mitchell will also work in Malajika’s corner in Tokyo, marking the first time he will do so during the boxer’s professional career.
For Mitchell, the date of the fight holds special meaning: on September 27, 1986, exactly 40 years before Malajika’s bout, Mitchell won the WBA Junior Lightweight World Championship at Sun City.
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“It’s going to be 40 years to the day since I won the world title in 1986 at Sun City, and of course Ricardo Malajika fights on the same day, 40 years later.
“So, we’re hoping it’s going to be a great omen,” said Mitchell.
Mitchell also expressed his appreciation for the support shown at Malajika’s send-off.
“We’re going to Japan to win the WBC title, the biggest title in the world, and we’re very excited.
“We thank BSA, Golden Gloves and everyone for the support.
“We’ll bring back the WBC title to South Africa,” he said.
BSA Chairperson Ayanda Khumalo said Malajika’s opportunity is significant for the boxer and for South African boxing as a whole.
“We are very excited. We’ve had quite a few opportunities for WBC titles this year.
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“We’ve already had two this year, and we are hoping to secure this one as the third belt,” said Khumalo.
“I’m really looking forward to Malajika coming back with the belt. I will be at the airport to welcome him.
I’m very excited and confident that he will do it.
“He has a very impressive record, he is a very good boxer and very disciplined. I do believe that he will create magic in Japan.”
The Tokyo fight will be an important opportunity for Malajika as he looks to add the WBC title to his achievements and further strengthen his position on the international boxing stage. BSA wishes Malajika and the entire team a safe journey to Japan and success in their preparations ahead of the championship bout.
