Thulani Malinga (born 11 December 1955) is a South African former

professional boxer Professional boxing, or prizefighting, is regulated, sanctioned boxing. Professional boxing bouts are fought for a purse that is divided between the boxers as determined by contract. Most professional bouts are supervised by a regulatory autho ...

who competed from 1981 to 2000, and held the WBC

super-middleweight Super middleweight, or light cruiserweight, is a weight class in combat sports. Boxing In professional boxing, super middleweight is contested between the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions, in which boxers can weigh between 160 pounds ...

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 Middleweight is a weight class in combat sports. Boxing Professional In professional boxing, the middleweight division is contested above and up to . Early boxing history is less than exact, but the middleweight designation seems to have be ...

super middleweight Super middleweight, or light cruiserweight, is a weight class in combat sports. Boxing In professional boxing, super middleweight is contested between the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions, in which boxers can weigh between 160 pound ...

and

light heavyweight Light heavyweight, also referred to as junior cruiserweight or light cruiserweight, is a weight class in combat sports. Boxing Professional In professional boxing, the division is above and up to , falling between super middleweight and cruise ...

, fighting memorable bouts against

Nigel Benn Nigel Gregory Benn (born 22 January 1964) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1987 to 1996. He held world championships in two weight classes, including the WBO middleweight title in 1990 and the WBC super-middleweight ti ...

Chris Eubank Christopher Livingstone Eubank (born 8 August 1966) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1985 to 1998. He held the WBO middleweight and super-middleweight titles between 1990 and 1995, and is ranked by BoxRec as the thir ...

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 The World Boxing Organization (WBO) is an organization which sanctions professional boxing bouts. It is recognized by the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) as one of the four major world championship groups, alongside the World Boxing ...

super middleweight title against

, 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

. 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 Vincenzo Nardiello (born 11 June 1966) is a retired former world champion Italian boxer in the super middleweight division. Early life & amateur career Nardiello was born in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, West Germany. A former world champion in ...

. He regained the title in his next fight, a decision win over Robin Reid (who had defeated Nardiello in his first defense of the title). However, he would again lose the belt in his first defense against

Richie Woodhall Richie Woodhall (born 17 April 1968) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1990 to 2000. He held the WBC super-middleweight title from 1998 to 1999, as well as the Commonwealth middleweight title from 1992 to 1995, and the E ...

, via decision. He fought four more times, retiring after a suffering an eighth-round TKO against

Ole Klemetsen Ole "Lukkøye" Klemetsen (born 30 August 1971 in Stavanger, Norway) is a retired Norwegian boxer in the Light Heavyweight division. He was nicknamed "Mister Sandman" and the "Golden Viking". Amateur career He medaled twice at internation ...

on 14 January 2000, finishing his career with 44 wins (20 by KO) and 13 losses. His trainer was

Nick Durandt Nick Durandt (December 26, 1963 – April 21, 2017) was a South African boxing trainer and manager. During his career Durandt produced 95 South African champions in all 17 weight divisions, 38 world champions and 27 International champions thro ...

Professional boxing record

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Malinga, Thulani 1955 births People from Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal Living people World super-middleweight boxing champions South African male boxers Light-heavyweight boxers African Boxing Union champions World Boxing Council champions