Jeffrey Mathebula


Jeffrey Mathebula is a professional boxer was IBF junior featherweight champion and is ranked as the sixth best super bantamweight in the world by The Ring.

Amateur career

Mathebula competed for his native country at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney in the Men's Featherweight division, where he defeated Noureddine Madjhoud in the first round and lost to Bekzat Sattarkhanov in the second round. He finished his amateur career with a record of 101–4.

Professional career

Mathebula made his professional debut on 17 February 2001, and has been managed and trained by Nick Durandt and promoted by Branco Sports Promotions. He fought to a draw with Malcolm Klassen in a six round bout in Temba, North West in September 2004.
Mathebula defeated Julio Zarate via a unanimous decision with the scores of 117–109 twice and 118–109 in an IBF super bantamweight title eliminator in Temba on 29 August 2008, after knocking him down twice in the tenth-round. He was supposed to challenge the then IBF super bantamweight champion Steve Molitor, but Molitor lost to Celestino Caballero. Hence, Mathebula fought against Caballero for the WBA Super World and IBF World super bantamweight title. However, he lost his first world title shot against Caballero via a split decision at the Roberto Duran Arena in Panama on 30 April 2009.
After losing to Takalani Ndlovu via a split decision in an IBF junior featherweight title eliminator in Brakpan, Gauteng in September 2010, Mathebula defeated Ndlovu via a split decision in their rematch in Brakpan to be crowned the IBF junior featherweight champion. It was the SABC-televised first boxing event after one year interruption.

Mathebula v. Donaire

In one of the more defining and memorable fights of Jeffrey Mathebula's career, Mathebula fought the hard-hitting, WBO Super Bantamweight Champion Nonito Donaire. Donaire is rated by The Ring as the number five pound-for-pound boxer in the world. It was a unification fight for IBF and WBO Super Bantamweight belts. The bout was Live on HBO Boxing After Dark on 7 July 2012 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, California. Donaire defeated Methebula by unanimous decision. Donaire knocked Mathebula down in round four, breaking his jaw in two places.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
34Loss27–5–2 Kiko MartínezKO9, 2:0521 Dec 2013 Pabellón Esperanza Lag, Elche, SpainFor IBF super bantamweight title
33Win27–4–2 Takalani NdlovuUD1223 March 2013 Carnival City Casino, Brakpan, Gauteng, South AfricaIBF super bantamweight title final eliminator
32Loss26–4–2 Nonito DonaireUD127 July 2012 Home Depot Center, Carson, California, U.S.Lost IBF Super Bantamweight title;
For WBO super bantamweight title
31Win26–3–2 Takalani NdlovuSD1224 March 2012 Carnival City Casino, Brakpan, Gauteng, South AfricaWon IBF Super Bantamweight title
30Win25–3–2 Oscar ChaukeSD1211 June 2011 Carnival City, Brakpan, Gauteng, South AfricaIBF super bantamweight title eliminator for the #2-spot
29Win24–3–2 Siviwe HasheniTKO230 October 2010 Mafikeng University Hall, Mafikeng, North-West, South Africa
28Loss23–3–2 Takalani NdlovuSD121 September 2010 Carnival City, Brakpan, Gauteng, South Africa
27Win23–2–2 Rashid AllyKO420 November 2009 Wembley Arena, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
26Loss22–2–2 Celestino CaballeroSD1230 April 2009 Arena Roberto Duran, Panama City, PanamaFor WBA and IBF super bantamweight title
25Win22–1–2 Julio ZarateUD1229 August 2008 Carousel Hotel & Casino, Temba, North-West, South AfricaIBF super bantamweight title eliminator
24Win21–1–2 Yoshinori MiyataTKO822 February 2008 Carousel Hotel & Casino, Temba, North-West, South AfricaRetained WBC International Featherweight title
23Win20–1–2 Themba TshicilaRTD11, 3:0029 June 2007 Orient Theatre, East London, Eastern Cape, South AfricaRetained WBC International Featherweight title
22Win19–1–2 Mkhuseli KondileKO28 December 2006 Nasrec Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
21Win18–1–2 Aaron MelgarejoUD1230 June 2006 Nasrec Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South AfricaRetained WBC International Featherweight title
20Win17–1–2Osumanu AkabaUD1230 September 2005 Graceland Hotel Casino, Secunda, Mpumalanga, South AfricaWon WBC International Featherweight title
19Win16–1–2Oscar ChaukePTS615 April 2005 Sunnypark Shopping Centre, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
18Draw15–1–2Malcolm KlassenPTS628 September 2004 Carousel Hotel & Casino, Temba, North-West, South Africa
17Win15–1–1Elias SkhosanaPTS623 July 2004 Carousel Hotel & Casino, Temba, North-West, South Africa
16Win14–1–1Sonwabo MatayiPTS624 February 2004 Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, Gauteng, South Africa
15Loss13–1–1Thomas MashabaTKO630 September 2003 Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, Gauteng, South AfricaFor vacant South African super bantamweight title
14Win13–0–1Oupa LubisiTKO3 31 May 2003 Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, Gauteng, South Africa
13Win12–0–1Bonani HlwatikaUD1215 February 2003Meropa Sun Casino, Polokwane, Limpopo, South AfricaWon IBO Inter-Continental title
12Win11–0–1Petros MotsoaholeKO122 November 2002Portuguese Hall, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
11Win10–0–1Martin MnyanduPTS65 October 2002Wembley Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
10Draw9–0–1Bonani HlwatikaPTS627 August 2002Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, Gauteng, South Africa
9Win9–0Wladimir BorovPTS615 May 2002Carnival City, Brakpan, Gauteng, South Africa
8Win8–0Ebenezer TumaneTKO327 March 2002Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, Gauteng, South Africa
7Win7–0Molefe BenzaneTKO46 February 2002Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, Gauteng, South Africa
6Win6–0Koos SibiyaKO224 October 2001Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, Gauteng, South Africa
5Win5–0Dumisani ZuluTKO119 September 2001Ubuntu Kraal Resort, Soweto, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
4Win4–0Takatso HlahanePTS422 August 2001Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, Gauteng, South Africa
3Win3–0Tshumbedzo TshishongeKO32 June 2001Carnival City, Brakpan, Gauteng, South Africa
2Win2–0Goodman MavusoTKO29 May 2001Carnival City, Brakpan, Gauteng, South Africa
1Win1–0Tally DisoloaneKO317 February 2001Carnival City, Brakpan, Gauteng, South AfricaPro debut for Mathebula a 2000 Olympian