Thulani Malinga


Thulani Malinga is a South African former professional boxer who competed from 1981 to 2000, and held the WBC super-middleweight title twice between 1996 and 1998.

Professional career

Known as "Sugar Boy", Malinga turned pro in 1981 after compiling an amateur record of 185–10, beginning his career with a first-round stoppage of Victor Zulu on 8 August 1981. Malinga held several championship titles during a twenty-year career as a middleweight, super middleweight and light heavyweight, fighting memorable bouts against Nigel Benn, Chris Eubank and Roy Jones, Jr., among others.
In 1989 he got his first shot at a title, taking on undefeated IBF super middleweight title holder Graciano Rocchigiani. Malinga lost a decision, and the next year took on Lindell Holmes, again for the IBF super middleweight title. He again lost via decision, and in 1992 got a shot at the WBO super middleweight title against Chris Eubank, during which Malinga was dropped in the fifth round and lost a close decision. Three months later he was also to lose a close decision—by just half a point—against Nigel Benn. After many fights in his native South Africa, and a further KO loss to Roy Jones, Jr. in the U.S., he landed another shot at the title in March 1996 against Benn, who was now the WBC super middleweight champion. Despite suffering a knockdown, Malinga scored an upset against Benn to win the title, but ended up losing the title in his first defense against Vincenzo Nardiello. He regained the title in his next fight, a decision win over Robin Reid. However, he would again lose the belt in his first defense against Richie Woodhall, via decision. He fought four more times, retiring after a suffering an eighth-round TKO against Ole Klemetsen on 14 January 2000, finishing his career with 44 wins and 13 losses. His trainer was Nick Durandt.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
57Loss44–13 Ole KlemetsenTKO8, 2:4014 Jan 2000 Koldinghallerne, Kolding, DenmarkFor vacant IBA light-heavyweight title
56Loss44–12 Mads LarsenTKO10 19 Mar 1999 Falkoner Center, Copenhagen, DenmarkLost WBF super-middleweight title;
For IBO super-middleweight title
55Win44–11 Peter H MadsenRTD8, 3:0027 Nov 1998 Vejlby-Risskov Hallen, Aarhus, DenmarkRetained WBF super-middleweight title
54Win43–11 Fredrik AlvarezTKO11 5 Jun 1998 K.B. Hallen, Copenhagen, DenmarkWon WBF super-middleweight title
53Loss42–11 Richie WoodhallUD1227 Mar 1998 Ice Rink, Telford, EnglandLost WBC super-middleweight title
52Win42–10 Robin ReidUD1219 Dec 1997 London Arena, London, EnglandWon WBC super-middleweight title
51Loss41–10 Vincenzo NardielloSD126 Jul 1996 NYNEX Arena, Manchester, EnglandLost WBC super-middleweight title
50Win41–9 Nigel BennSD122 Mar 1996 Telewest Arena, Newcastle, EnglandWon WBC super-middleweight title
49Win40–9 Trevor AmbrosePTS822 Jul 1995 London Arena, London, England
48Win39–9 Soon BotesTKO7 4 Mar 1995 Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, South AfricaWon South African super-middleweight title
47Win38–9 Martin OppermanTKO9 20 Nov 1994 Wembley Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South AfricaRetained South African light-heavyweight title
46Win37–9 Ray AcquayeTKO5 14 Aug 1994 Hotel Casino, Wild Coast, South AfricaWon vacant ABU super-middleweight title
45Win36–9 Mohammed IsaacsKO7 20 Feb 1994 Nasrec Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South AfricaRetained South African light-heavyweight title
44Loss35–9 Roy Jones Jr.KO6, 1:5714 Aug 1993 Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, US
43Win35–8 Gary BallardUD1210 Feb 1993 City Hall, Durban, South AfricaRetained South African light-heavyweight title
42Win34–8 Jim MurrayMD1214 Sep 1992 Nasrec Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South AfricaRetained South African light-heavyweight title
41Loss33–8 Nigel BennPTS1023 May 1992 National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, England
40Loss33–7 Chris EubankSD121 Feb 1992 National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, EnglandFor WBO super-middleweight title
39Win33–6 Leonard FriedmanUD1013 Aug 1991 Morula Sun Casino, Mabopane, South Africa
38Loss32–6 Lindell HolmesUD1215 Dec 1990 Palazzo del Ghiaccio, Marino, ItalyFor IBF super-middleweight title
37Win32–5 Sakkie HornPTS1211 Oct 1990 Nasrec Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South AfricaWon South African light-heavyweight title
36Loss31–5 John JarvisMD125 Aug 1990 Barranquilla, ColombiaFor IBF Inter-Continental super-middleweight title
35Win31–4 Tony HarrisonUD1029 Jan 1990 FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa
34Win30–4 Oscar PenaUD105 Dec 1989 FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa
33Win29–4 Jose QuinonesTKO8 21 Oct 1989 San Juan, Puerto Rico
32Win28–4 Vincent Boulware1018 Sep 1989 Portuguese Hall, Johannesburg, South Africa
31Win27–4 Nicky WalkerUD1027 May 1989 Superbowl, Sun City, South Africa
30Win26–4 Mike PeakUD1011 Mar 1989 Indoor Centre, Springs, South Africa
29Loss25–4 Graciano RocchigianiUD1227 Jan 1989 Deutschlandhalle, West Berlin, West GermanyFor IBF super-middleweight title
28Win25–3 Larry MusgroveSD1018 Jul 1988 West Ridge Park Tennis Stadium, Durban, South Africa
27Win24–3 Jim MacDonaldUD107 Mar 1988 Oppenheimer Stadium, Orkney, South Africa
26Win23–3 Harry CowapUD101 Feb 1988 Standard Bank Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa
25Loss22–3 Sakkie Horn12 21 Nov 1987 Indoor Centre, Springs, South AfricaFor South African light-heavyweight title;
Malinga disqualified for an intentional low blow
24Win22–2 Prince TukaneTKO4 18 Oct 1987 City Hall, East London, South Africa
23Loss21–2 Sakkie Horn129 May 1987 Far North Rugby Stadium, Pietersburg, South AfricaLost South African light-heavyweight title
22Win21–1 Freddie RaffertyUD1215 Dec 1986 West Ridge Park Tennis Stadium, Durban, South AfricaRetained South African light-heavyweight title
21Win20–1 Sakkie HornPTS1219 Oct 1986 Portuguese Hall, Johannesburg, South AfricaWon South African light-heavyweight title
20Win19–1 Gregory ClarkUD1228 Jun 1986 Eldorado Park Stadium, Johannesburg, South AfricaRetained South African middleweight title
19Win18–1 Pieter de BruinTKO8 8 Mar 1986 Crown Mines Showgrounds, Johannesburg, South AfricaRetained South African middleweight title
18Win17–1 Kosie van VuurenRTD10 14 Dec 1985 Currie's Fountain, Durban, South AfricaRetained South African middleweight title
17Win16–1 Pieter de BruinPTS627 Jul 1985 Superbowl, Sun City, South Africa
16Win15–1 Frankie DecaesteckerRTD522 Jun 1985 Bleskop Stadium, Rustenburg, South Africa
15Win14–1 Robert MadiTKO8 20 Apr 1985 Currie's Fountain, Durban, South Africa
14Win13–1 Gavin StirrupKO2 15 Mar 1985 Riverlea Hall, Johannesburg, South Africa
13Win12–1 Mwehu BeyaRTD6 26 Oct 1984 Riverlea Hall, Johannesburg, South Africa
12Win11–1 Michael MotsoaneUD1215 Jun 1984 Riverlea Hall, Johannesburg, South AfricaRetained South African middleweight title
11Win10–1 Prince TukanePTS81 May 1984 West Ridge Park Tennis Stadium, Durban, South Africa
10Win9–1 John DiaminiKO4 27 Feb 1984 City Hall, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
9Win8–1 Samson Mohloai127 Feb 1983 West Ridge Park Tennis Stadium, Durban, South AfricaWon vacant South African middleweight title
8Win7–1 David KalakoPTS64 Oct 1982 West Ridge Park Tennis Stadium, Durban, South Africa
7Win6–1 Shadrack SitholeKO2 13 Sep 1982 City Hall, Pietermaritzburg, South AfricaWon Natal middleweight title
6Win5–1 Graham Mdingi2 28 Aug 1982 Steadeville School Hall, Ladysmith, South Africa
5Win4–1 Morris MohloaiPTS65 Jun 1982 Limit Hill Tennis Stadium, Ladysmith, South Africa
4Loss3–1 Patrick TshabalalaPTS617 Apr 1982 Showgrounds, Ermelo, South Africa
3Win3–0 Werdie Jacobs4 30 Nov 1981 West Ridge Park Tennis Stadium, Durban, South Africa
2Win2–0 Cyprian Shandu412 Sep 1981 Seaman's Institute Hall, Durban, South Africa
1Win1–0 Victor Zulu1 8 Aug 1981 Seaman's Institute Hall, Durban, South AfricaProfessional debut