Highly rated KwaZulu-Natal born fighter keeps on turning heads in the Boxing industry by his massive come backs in the game. Under the guidance of Colin Nathan from the Hotbox Gym in Glenanda, Johannesburg, Mthalane made a shocking come back after being out of action for 15 months.
On July 15, 2018, he won the vacant IBF flyweight belt with a 12-round unanimous points decision over Pakistani Muhammad Waseem to reclaim the IBF tittle.Then on December 31, he made a successful defence against Japan’s Masahiro Sakamoto to take his record 37-2; 25.
““I’m very happy because I won the fight. my opponent was very strong compared to how I was watching him on the videos. i am so happy to see the results of my hard work,”said Mthalane
“Two years back, many people thought i was going to quit the boxing game. Those years taught me to remain strong and to work hard. I learnt a lot from my past and i am using the strength i gained back then to win more fights.”
Mthalane also added that he is more happy with his boxing career at the moment, and he is working so hard to achieve more. He is not planing on hanging the gloves anytime soon.
The 36 years old veteran is not new in the game. He started his professional boxing career when he was 19, in 10 December 2000. He joined the late Nick Durandt stable in July 2001 and remained unbeaten through his first 14 fights.
He has won 38 (25 knockouts) of his 40 fights with an unbeaten run for the past 11 years. The only looses on his record name came against Nkqubela Gwazela -for the South African and vacant WBC International flyweight titles, on September 2004, in Secunda. His last loss was a controversial cut eye stoppage loss to Nonito Donair for the IBF and IBO flyweight belts on November 2008, in Las Vegas.
Moruti had his first amateur experience at the age of 13. He grew up in Lindelani, south of Durban, in a boxing loving family. His father Michael, trained him and his older brother Innocent, who fought as a junior-featherweight from 1995 to 2007 and won the South African junior-featherweight title in a 26- fight career. Another brother Sihle fought as junior-lightweight from 2002 to 2005 in a 17-bout career. had his first amateur experience at the age of 13.
Mthalane seems to be doing well under the 2017 South African trainer of the year-Colin Nathan. Judging by a back to back victories, a move to top trainer Colin Nathan in 2016 proves to be his best decision. He also began to earn the sort of purses he deserves, due recompense for a man who ranks among the classiest and hard-working of SA sportsmen.
“Moruti is a hard working and very humble guy who doesn’t talk a lot out of the ring, his actions inside the ring tells the whole story. He respects his job as a boxer and he is doing his best to remain the top boxer in South Africa. it is an honor to work with such success driven athlete. besides being professional in everything we do, we are more like brothers,” said Colin Nathan.
It’s been a hard road, nothing less than a struggle at times, but Mthalane has always fought with a quiet dignity and showed discipline. 8 weeks ago, before his world class performance defending his International Boxing Federation flyweight championship against Masayuki Kuroda in Tokyo- Baby face lost his 5 months old daughter, Thingo, a victim of liver alignment. The situation could’ve disturbed or even worse crushed Moruti’s preparations. The IBF Champion proved his professionalism and remained focus.
“To become great you have to work hard and focus everyday, i am a hard working person and boxing is my life. I am working even harder to win more big titles,” said Mthalane.
Currently, South Africa have only seven world boxing champs. Moruti Mthalane (IBF) and Zolani Tete (WBO) are the only SA fighters to hold a belt from one of the major organisations. The other belt holders are IBO, Kevin Lerena (cruiserweight), Thulani Mbenge (welterweight), Gideon Buthelezi (super-flyweight), Simpiwe Konkco (minimumweight) and WBU, Xolisani Ndongeni (lightweight).
On Mthalane’s next bout, Collin Nathan said at the moment they are still celebrating Mthalane’s massive IBF crown second successful defense. A big fight with a British professional boxer who is the current WBC Flyweight champion Charlie Edwards is on the talks- but a proper schedule that will allow the two to meet is yet not confirmed.
Edwards is ranked as the best flyweight in the world by Box Rec, third best by the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board and 5th best by The Ring
