Mhlongo tames The Demolisher

Andrew Poolman



Former South African champion Nkululeko Mhlongo persisted to overcome Lukas (The Demolisher) Ndafoluma by a late technical knockout, replacing the Namibian as the new African middleweight title holder of the World Boxing Organisation (WBO).

Ndafoluma scored a knockdown within the first minute of the first round with a straight right to the face, but Mhlongo weathered the storm and gradually came into his own.

Mhlongo knocked down the tiring defending champion late in round 6, before the end came in round 8 as the under-pressure Ndafoluma turned his back on the proceedings and referee Deon Dwarte jumped in to stop the fight.

The 35-year-old South African certainly does not possess outstanding hand speed, power or trickery – other than a solid chin and a determination to keep walking forward and simply absorbing any shots the Namibian (35) could throw at him.

The lanky Ndafoluma’s well-known lack of stamina became apparent quite early on and devastatingly caught up with him in the later rounds, as he conceded the WBO Africa belt that he had won in February this year (against Simion Tchetha of Malawi) and defended successfully once in July (against the Angolan Cristiano Ndombassy).

Instead of staying focused on accuracy or shot selection to maximise his reach advantage, the tiring Ndafoluma often resorted to tactics such as clinching, grabbing hold of his opponent’s arm or taking a defensive break to recover against the ropes.

Ndafoluma, now with 20 professional wins and four losses, afterwards said he had picked up a cough about a week before the fight and that he could feel that his body had not fully recovered. “I experienced a lack of oxygen and I got tired.”

Mhlongo (now 23-9, 10 KOs) said: “I’m so happy. I started off slowly and got caught with an early right hand, but I knew I would pick up momentum later. He is strong, but he waited too long and give me time to counter him.”

Other results from the MTC Salute Boxing Academy’s fight night:

1 Lightweight: Immanuel Nghilongwa beat Joshua Nelomba by TKO, round 2

2 Bantamweight: Gabriel Jamba and Salatiel Moses fought to a draw.

3 Super welterweight: Abed Shikongo beat Simeon Shafodino by unanimous decision (59-55, 59-55, 58-56).

4 Welterweight: Bernard Bernard beat Herber Negumbo by TKO, round 1.

5 Lightweight: Lazarus Shaningwa beat David Shinuna by TKO, round 4.

6 Flyweight: Jonas Erastus beat Oiva Amwaama by TKO, round 2.

7 Lightweight: Shifiona Thomas beat Gerson Vaeta by TKO, round 1.

8 Albinus Felesianu beat Yohani Banda (Malawi) by TKO, round 4.

9 Nathaniel Kakololo beat Romeo Mkwakwa (Malawi) by unanimous decision (60-51, 60-51, 58-53).

10 Paulus Morgan beat Stefanus Shivambo by split decision (38-37, 38-37, 36-37).

11 WBO Africa flyweight title fight: Immanuel Josef (holder) beat Muhsin Kizota (Tanzania) by unanimous decision (98-91, 98-91, 97-92).

12 Flyweight: Fillemon Nghutenyane beat Mathews Nghikevali by knockout, round 1.

13 Flyweight: Matias Hamunyela beat Leonard Gawanab by unanimous decision (39-37 on all three cards).