Connect with us

Articles of 2006

Malinga wins solidly, but needs work

Published

on

Although he lost, looking at Lawrence Ngobeni’s condition on Friday night, you would never say he only had two weeks notice to prepare for his fourth encounter with Samuel Malinga. The two contested the South African junior welterweight title at Graceland Casino and delivered an entertaining contest.

Ngobeni, a former South African junior welterweight champion and former WBA intercontinental junior welterweight champion, was at a time a top contender for the WBA world lightweight title. He was one of those guys who actually worked his way up the ratings on merit, only to never be given the opportunity to grab the brass ring.

At 34 he is obviously no longer what he was, but on Friday’s showing he does still have a lot of fight left in him. Going into this fight Ngobeni, 31-6-4 (18), held a points win over Malinga in 2004, a TKO loss in 2005, and in their last fight in 2005 the two warriors fought to a draw. Malinga, 17-4-2 (10), is a former IBO Intercontinental junior welterweight and WBF junior welterweight world champion.

Ngobeni was a late replacement for Colin Mayasela, who withdrew from his title challenge due to injury. Looking at his physique Ngobeni is clearly a man who looks after himself, and while he perhaps had insufficient notice to prepare mentally and strategically for the fight he was fit and other fighters should look at him as a role model in this regard.

It was a fight from the outset, although Ngobeni was a little uncomfortable at the end of the round having received a number of crisp uppercuts from the taller champion, who also has a longer reach. In the second round it looked as though it was all over as Malinga caught his challenger with a short right left combination to put him down.

Ngobeni’s experience showed as he was able to weather the storm and came back strong in the third round. The champion, who has good hands, continued to use his uppercuts to good effect, but the gallant challenger was now also getting his own jab through. At the end of the round it was the champion who now looked more uncomfortable.

Ngobeni continued to come forward, but was taking four blows to land one of his own. The height and reach advantage enjoyed by the champion certainly gave him an edge, but his solidly placed uppercuts never deterred his man, who continued to move forward looking for an opening.

In the fifth round the challenger switched to southpaw. The change worked as the champion did not know how to handle the switch and the challenger took the round.

Ngobeni then reverted to orthodox in the sixth and was on the receiving end of a solid straight right which glazed his eyes.

The challenger was again on the receiving end for most of the round as he soldiered forward in hopes of destabilizing his junior by ten years. Malinga treated Ngobeni’s head like a pear-ball and went to work on it with a flurry of rights and lefts. The challenger did get through with a good left jab and a powerful right to the body as the bell sounded the end of the round.

In the ninth the challenger turned up the heat and shaded the first half of the round. He continued moving forward in the second half, but was peppered with short jabs and uppercuts for his efforts. He caught the champion with a short right, which made him do a double take, but was unable to follow up as still battled to get through the champion’s guard. The challenger stayed close to the champion throughout and made it difficult for him to land cleanly.

In a strange turn of strategy, Ngobeni came out in the eleventh round and decided to stay on the outside of his man. What he or his corner was thinking I’ll never know. Remember when Francois Botha did the same inane thing against the bigger, taller and longer reaching Lennox Lewis? Needless to say, now that the champion could get full extension on his punches and had space to move and throw them, the bombs landed and Ngobeni went down. The gutsy warrior got back to his feet and the bombardment continued. At the point when the referee was probably considering stepping in, the bell rang and bought the challenger one minute’s respite.

Nineteen seconds into the last round the men were in the same position and the referee called a halt to the bout. It was a good fight. It showed that Ngobeni is still has fight left in him and given proper notice, who knows what he could pull out of the bag? It’s a good win for Malinga. He has a good jab and it’s refreshing to see a boxer using uppercuts again. He is talented, but he still needs work. His confidence isn’t what it should be and it’s pretty clear he doesn’t think in the ring, he just follows instruction.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing – there have been a number of world champions who have been the same – but it gets tough when you’re in the ring with a boxer who can think on his feet and improvise in the heat of the moment. Colin Mayasela is such a fighter and if he had been in the ring with Malinga, we could well have had a new champion.

Share The Sweet Science experience!
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Avila-Perspective-Chap-330-Matchroom-in-New-York-plus-the-latest-on-Canelo-Crawford
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 330: Matchroom in New York plus the Latest on Canelo-Crawford

Vito-Mielnicki-Whitewashes-Kamil-Gardzielik-Before-the-Home-Folks-in-Newark
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Vito Mielnicki Jr Whitewashes Kamil Gardzielik Before the Home Folks in Newark

Pacquiao-is-Back,-Fabio-in-England-and-More.jpg
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap 329: Pacquiao is Back, Fabio in England and More

Opetaia-and-Nakatani-Crush-Overmatched-Foes-Capping-Off-a-Wild-Boxing-Weekend
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Opetaia and Nakatani Crush Overmatched Foes, Capping Off a Wild Boxing Weekend

Catching-Up-with-Clay-Moyle-Who-Talks-About-His-Massive-Collection-of-Boxing-Books
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Catching Up with Clay Moyle Who Talks About His Massive Collection of Boxing Books

Fabio-Wardley-Comes-from-Behind-to-KO-Justis-Huni
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Fabio Wardley Comes from Behind to KO Justis Huni  

More-Medals-for-Hawaii's-Patricio-Family-at-USA-Boxing's-Summer-Festival
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

More Medals for Hawaii’s Patricio Family at the USA Boxing Summer Festival

The-Shafting-of-Blair-the-Flair-Cobbs-a-Familar-Thread-in-the-Cruelest-Sport
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

The Shafting of Blair “The Flair” Cobbs, a Familiar Thread in the Cruelest Sport

Richardson-Hitchins-Batters-and-Stops-George-Kambosos-at-Madison-Square-Garden
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Richardson Hitchins Batters and Stops George Kambosos at Madison Square Garden 

Callum-Walsh-Umar-Dzambekov-and-Cain-Sandoval-Remain-Unbeaten-at-Santa-Ynez
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Callum Walsh, Umar Dzambekov and Cain Sandoval Remain Unbeaten at Santa Ynez

A-Fight-Fan-and-Teremoana-Samson-Junior-Leon-Teremoana
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

A Fight Fan and Teremoana Samson Junior Leon Teremoana

Paro
Featured Articles1 week ago

Liam Paro Returns with a Flourish on Wednesday’s ‘No Limit’ Card in Queensland

Avila-Perspective-Chap-331-Callum-Walsh-Brian-Norman-Galal-Yafai-and-More
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 331: Callum Walsh, Brian Norman, Galal Yafai and More

Jake-Paul-Outpoints-Julio-Cesar-Chavez-Jr-plus-Other-Results-from-Anaheim
Featured Articles7 days ago

Jake Paul Outpoints Julio Cesar Chavez Jr plus Other Results from Anaheim

Brian-Norman-Jr-Bombs-Out-Jin-Sasaki-with-a-Frightful-Left-Hook
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Brian Norman Jr Bombs Out Jin Sasaki with a Frightful Left Hook

A-Closer-Look-at-Mario-Barrios-Poised-to-Wreck-the-Comeback-of-a-Legend
Featured Articles1 week ago

A Closer Look at Mario Barrios, Poised to Wreck the Comeback of a Legend

A-Boxing-Card-in-Alabama-Goes-Pfft-A-True-Tale-from-the-Underbelly-of-the-Sweet-Science
Featured Articles4 days ago

A Boxing Card in Alabama Goes Pfft: A True Tale from the Underbelly of The Sweet Science

Avila-Perspective-Chap-332-Jake-Paul-vs-Chavez-Jr-plus-Mbilli-Deontay-and-More
Featured Articles1 week ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 332: Jake Paul vs Chavez Jr., plus Mbilli, Deontay and More

Mbilli-Blasts-Out-Sulecki-in-Quebec-Wilder-TKOs-Herndon-in-Wichita
Featured Articles1 week ago

Mbilli Blasts Out Sulecki in Quebec; Wilder TKOs Herndon in Wichita

Holly-Holm-Joshua-Edwards-and-Rene-Alvarado-Sparkle-on-the-Paul-Chavez-Undercard
Featured Articles7 days ago

Holly Holm, Joshua Edwards, and Rene Alvarado Sparkle on the Paul-Chavez Undercard

Avila-Perspective-Chap-333-Jake-Paul-JC-Chavez-Jr-Zurdo-and-More
Featured Articles23 hours ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 333: Jake Paul, JC Chavez Jr, Zurdo and More

When-Boxing-Was-Big-on-the-Fourth-of-July-A-TSS-Classic
Featured Articles2 days ago

When Boxing was Big on the Fourth of July: A TSS Classic

A-Boxing-Card-in-Alabama-Goes-Pfft-A-True-Tale-from-the-Underbelly-of-the-Sweet-Science
Featured Articles4 days ago

A Boxing Card in Alabama Goes Pfft: A True Tale from the Underbelly of The Sweet Science

Mexico's-Francisco-Rodriguez-Jr-is-the-TSS-Fighter-of-the-Month-for-June
Featured Articles5 days ago

Mexico’s Francisco Rodriguez Jr is the TSS Fighter of the Month for June

Jake-Paul-Outpoints-Julio-Cesar-Chavez-Jr-plus-Other-Results-from-Anaheim
Featured Articles7 days ago

Jake Paul Outpoints Julio Cesar Chavez Jr plus Other Results from Anaheim

Holly-Holm-Joshua-Edwards-and-Rene-Alvarado-Sparkle-on-the-Paul-Chavez-Undercard
Featured Articles7 days ago

Holly Holm, Joshua Edwards, and Rene Alvarado Sparkle on the Paul-Chavez Undercard

Mbilli-Blasts-Out-Sulecki-in-Quebec-Wilder-TKOs-Herndon-in-Wichita
Featured Articles1 week ago

Mbilli Blasts Out Sulecki in Quebec; Wilder TKOs Herndon in Wichita

Avila-Perspective-Chap-332-Jake-Paul-vs-Chavez-Jr-plus-Mbilli-Deontay-and-More
Featured Articles1 week ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 332: Jake Paul vs Chavez Jr., plus Mbilli, Deontay and More

A-Closer-Look-at-Mario-Barrios-Poised-to-Wreck-the-Comeback-of-a-Legend
Featured Articles1 week ago

A Closer Look at Mario Barrios, Poised to Wreck the Comeback of a Legend

Paro
Featured Articles1 week ago

Liam Paro Returns with a Flourish on Wednesday’s ‘No Limit’ Card in Queensland

More-Medals-for-Hawaii's-Patricio-Family-at-USA-Boxing's-Summer-Festival
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

More Medals for Hawaii’s Patricio Family at the USA Boxing Summer Festival

Callum-Walsh-Umar-Dzambekov-and-Cain-Sandoval-Remain-Unbeaten-at-Santa-Ynez
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Callum Walsh, Umar Dzambekov and Cain Sandoval Remain Unbeaten at Santa Ynez

Vito-Mielnicki-Whitewashes-Kamil-Gardzielik-Before-the-Home-Folks-in-Newark
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Vito Mielnicki Jr Whitewashes Kamil Gardzielik Before the Home Folks in Newark

Avila-Perspective-Chap-331-Callum-Walsh-Brian-Norman-Galal-Yafai-and-More
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 331: Callum Walsh, Brian Norman, Galal Yafai and More

Brian-Norman-Jr-Bombs-Out-Jin-Sasaki-with-a-Frightful-Left-Hook
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Brian Norman Jr Bombs Out Jin Sasaki with a Frightful Left Hook

A-Fight-Fan-and-Teremoana-Samson-Junior-Leon-Teremoana
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

A Fight Fan and Teremoana Samson Junior Leon Teremoana

Catching-Up-with-Clay-Moyle-Who-Talks-About-His-Massive-Collection-of-Boxing-Books
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Catching Up with Clay Moyle Who Talks About His Massive Collection of Boxing Books

Richardson-Hitchins-Batters-and-Stops-George-Kambosos-at-Madison-Square-Garden
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Richardson Hitchins Batters and Stops George Kambosos at Madison Square Garden 

Avila-Perspective-Chap-330-Matchroom-in-New-York-plus-the-latest-on-Canelo-Crawford
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 330: Matchroom in New York plus the Latest on Canelo-Crawford

The-Shafting-of-Blair-the-Flair-Cobbs-a-Familar-Thread-in-the-Cruelest-Sport
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

The Shafting of Blair “The Flair” Cobbs, a Familiar Thread in the Cruelest Sport

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending