Nkosinathi Joyi


Nkosinathi Joyi, is a South African professional boxer with a southpaw stance who goes by the nickname of "Mabere". Joyi is the former IBF Minimumweight world champion, he was ranked by BoxRec and The Ring Magazine as the number one boxer in the Minimumweight division. He is also the two-time and current IBO Minimumweight champion.

Professional career

Joyi, who has fought his entire career in South Africa, made his professional debut on 28 April 2002 in Queenstown. He beat Dalisizwe Komani over the six round distance to make a winning start to his career. Joyi won his first minor championship on 24 April 2004, beating Mzikayse Foslare to win the South African minimumweight title.

Minimumweight world title

The first major fight of his career came on 26 June 2009 in East London, where he fought the Filipino boxer Florante Condes in an IBF Minimumweight title eliminator. Joyi won the fight by a wide unanimous decision with scores of: 120–107 and 119–108. In his next fight, on 26 March 2010 and also in East London, Joyi challenged for the IBF title against the Mexican Raúl García. Joyi once again gained a unanimous points decision and claimed García's title, the scores were 119–109 and 118–110. On 29 January 2011, Joyi faced former WBC Minimumweight champion, Katsunari Takayama. Joyi appeared to be in full control of the bout until the third round, when an accidental clash of heads opened a deep cut along Takayama's hairline. Since four rounds had not been completed, the bout was ruled a no-contest. Joyi then defeated Takayama via a unanimous decision in a direct rematch on 30 March 2012 in East London. He had reportedly injured his left hand in the second round of that fight. Joyi's promoter Branco Milenkovic has planned to stage a unification match. However, two of the other three champions of the four major sanctioning bodies were Japanese. Although Japan's reigning world champions have been allowed to fight in a unification match with any champion of the four major sanctioning bodies since 28 February 2011, the WBC's Kazuto Ioka and the WBA's Akira Yaegashi were due to fight in their title unification bout. So, they were unavailable until at least June 2012.
In Joyi's first fight outside of South Africa, he suffered an upset knockout loss at the hands of local fighter Mario Rodriguez in Sinaloa, Mexico on 1 September 2012.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
36Win29-5-1- Joey CanoyUD1216 Dec 2019International Convention Centre, East London, South Africa.png" />Won vacant IBO mini-flyweight title
35Draw28-5-1- Siphamandla BaleniTD3 27 Jul 2019For vacant WBO Global light-flyweight title
34Win28-5- Nhlanhla TyirhaUD127 Dec 2018Retained WBO Africa light-flyweight title
33Win27-5- Mpho SeforoKO5 7 Dec 2018Won vacant WBO Africa light-flyweight title
32Loss26-5- Simphiwe KhoncoUD1220 Nov 2016For IBO mini-flyweight title
31Win26-4- Luyanda NkwankwaPTS822 Apr 2016
30Win25-4- Sinethemba MagibiselaTKO5 4 Sep 2015Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa
29Loss24-4- Rey LoretoTKO1, 1:4622 Mar 2015 Mdantsane Indoor Centre, Mdantsane, South AfricaFor IBO light-flyweight title
28Loss24-3- Rey LoretoKO3, 0:491 Feb 2014 Salle des etoiles, Monte Carlo, MonacoFor vacant IBO light-flyweight title
27Win24-2- Benezer AlolodKO9, 2:4831 Aug 2013 Emperor's Palace, Kempton Park, South AfricaWon WBC International light-flyweight title
26Loss23-2- Hekkie BudlerSD1215 Jun 2013 Emperor's Palace, Kempton Park, South AfricaFor IBO mini-flyweight title
25Win23-1- Walter RojasTKO1, 2:138 Dec 2012 Mdantsane Indoor Centre, Mdantsane, South AfricaWon vacant WBA International mini-flyweight title
24Loss22-1- Mario RodriguezKO7, 2:071 Sep 2012 Gimnasio Municipal Luis Estrada Medina, Guasave, MexicoLost IBF mini-flyweight title
23Win22-0- Katsunari TakayamaUD1230 Mar 2012 Orient Theatre, East London, South AfricaRetained IBF mini-flyweight title
22NC21-0- Katsunari TakayamaNC3, 1:5929 Jan 2011 Carnival City, Brakpan, South AfricaIBF mini-flyweight title at stake;
NC after Takayama was cut from an accidental head clash
21Win21–0 Raúl GarcíaUD1226 Mar 2010 International Convention Centre, East London, South AfricaWon IBF mini-flyweight title
20Win20–0 Florante CondesUD1226 Jun 2009 Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa
19Win19–0 Lorenzo TrejoKO2, 0:4822 Nov 2008 Mdantsane Indoor Centre, Mdantsane, South AfricaRetained IBO mini-flyweight title
18Win18–0 Sammy GutiérrezTKO7 27 Jun 2008 Orient Theatre, East London, South AfricaRetained IBO mini-flyweight title
17Win17–0 Gabriel PumarKO1, 2:3116 Nov 2007 Great Centenary Hall, Port Elizabeth, South AfricaRetained IBO mini-flyweight title
16Win16–0 Armando dela CruzKO2, 1:284 Nov 2006 Emperor's Palace, Kempton Park, South AfricaWon vacant IBO mini-flyweight title
15Win15–0 Thobani MbangeniTKO2, 1:3922 Sep 2006 Orient Theatre, East London, South AfricaRetained South African mini-flyweight title
14Win14–0 Thulani NdyamaraTKO1, 2:581 Apr 2006 Orient Theatre, East London, South AfricaRetained South African mini-flyweight title
13Win13–0 Mawanda SinekoKO6 29 Oct 2005 Orient Theatre, East London, South AfricaRetained South African mini-flyweight title
12Win12–0 Mawanda SinekoUD125 Mar 2005 Orient Theatre, East London, South AfricaRetained South African mini-flyweight title
11Win11–0 Wele MaqoloUD1228 Aug 2004 Orient Theatre, East London, South AfricaRetained South African mini-flyweight title
10Win10–0 Khuselekile GadaTKO1, 1:5916 Jul 2004 Great Centenary Hall, Port Elizabeth, South AfricaRetained South African mini-flyweight title
9Win9–0 Mzikayse FoslareTKO1, 1:3224 Apr 2004 Orient Theatre, East London, South AfricaWon vacant South African mini-flyweight title
8Win8–0 Thembinkosi BlouTKO2 21 Feb 2004 Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa
7Win7–0 Elliot TokonaTKO4 6 Dec 2003 Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa
6Win6–0 Sakhumzi MqadaruTKO2 2 Aug 2003 Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa
5Win5–0 Mlungiseleli XokolosheUD105 Apr 2003 Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa
4Win4–0 Siyabulela MejeniTKO1 14 Dec 2002 Mdantsane Indoor Centre, East London, South Africa
3Win3–0 Khuselekile GadaTKO2 24 Aug 2002 Gompo Hall, East London, South Africa
2Win2–0 Makhi NokheleTKO3 15 Jun 2002 Moses Twebe Hall, Dimbaza, South Africa
1Win1–0 Dalisizwe KomaniPTS628 Apr 2002 Indoor Sports Centre, Queenstown, South Africa