South African Boxer ‘Wonderboy’ Mahlangu Defends Junior Featherweight Title

MIDRAND, South Africa — South African Boxer Bongani (“Wonderboy”) Mahlangu defended his junior featherweight title when he met his fellow country mate Luthando Mbumbulwana on Saturday September 30 at Vodaworld in Midrand, South Africa. The Wonderboy made his first pro debut in 2006 and won the South African junior featherweight title, when he stopped Sivivwe Hasheni in the ninth round.

As an amateur, he participated in the 2004 Summer Olympics, with a fight against  Azerbaijan’s Rovshan Huseynov. The match ended in the first round of the lightweight division with a win for Huseynov.

44 year old Mahlangu (26-9; 0) won the silver medal in the same division one year earlier, at the All-Africa Games in Abuja, Nigeria.

“I will be fighting against Mbumbulwana from the Eastern Cape on the 30th. I must admit that I haven’t watched him fighting in a long time,” said Mahlangu in media reports before the fight.

“The last time I saw him fighting was when he fought against the late Mfusi Maxhayi in 2015. I then went on to fight against Maxhayi. Be that as it may, I don’t see Mbumbulwana as a dangerous opponent. He doesn’t scare at all,” said Mahlangu in media statements.

“I am here in a two-pronged mission that is to prove to promoters, especially back at home, that age is nothing but a number, and also to win a world title in my very first attempt,” he said Mahlangu in media reports recently while talking about his age.

His opponent, 37 year old Mbumbulwana (13-8; 0) is from the Eastern Cape, South Africa made his pro debut in 2010.

Mahlangu who is the reigning South African junior featherweight champion has a 21-year-old son Bheki Maitse who is also a boxer in the featherweight division. 

 Mahlangu won in the 7th round with a KO over  Mbumbulwana in 12 round battle for veterans on Saturday, September 30 in Midrand, South Africa.

Edited by Virginia Van Zandt and Newsdesk Manager