Tik Box South Africa 70kg middleweight champion from Germiston, Moses Nelumoni, is celebrating his latest title victory after an impressive rise in the boxing ranks.

The 23-year-old amateur boxer joined Lakeside Boxing and Fitness late last year, where he began preparing for his first competitive bout.

After weeks of training, Nelumoni got his big break when he stepped into the ring in a match booked by Tik Box South Africa.

ALSO READ: Sunnyridge-based Gloss Boxing World enters 2026 unbeaten and hungry for more

He won his debut fight by decision, lost his second bout on points, but bounced back strongly to claim victory in his third fight, an emphatic first-round win in the championship bout to secure the middleweight title.

“A friend of mine who was fighting at Tik Box SA needed an opponent, so I trained to fight him and I won by decision,” said Nelumoni.

“I lost my second fight on the same promotion, but I made a good impression. I was then booked for the title fight on December 13, and I won it in the first round.”

Before turning to boxing, Nelumoni was a multi-code athlete, competing in rugby, cricket and cross-country, where he won gold medals in all three disciplines. He said it was only a matter of time before he added boxing gold to his achievements.

He is now set to defend his title on March 7 in a rematch against the fighter who handed him his only defeat.

ALSO READ: Medal sweep for Tebbutt’s Academy in karate and kickboxing

“This time I plan to knock him out and be the definitive winner,” Nelumoni said.

“This is the second belt for the gym, and I don’t want to lose it.”

Nelumoni believes boxing has played a major role in shaping his discipline and mindset.

“Boxing is all about the mind. If you tell yourself you can do it, you will. Nothing is impossible to achieve,” he said.

Lakeside Boxing and Fitness coach Nathan van Wyk said Nelumoni joined the gym shortly after it opened its doors to the public at its new location last year.

Van Wyk, who comes from a family of middleweight boxers, has passed on his experience and knowledge to his fighters.

He also runs the Winning Champions Boxing League, formerly known as the White Collar Boxing League.
Thami Mkwalo is the current champion of the in-house tournament.