Jayson Mama in Near Mission Impossible Title Quest Vs Moruri Mthalane in S. Africa
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 07 Nov 2020
After Geimel Magramo bit the dust against Junto Nakatani recently in a failed world title try, it is now the turn of Jayson Mama to pull off a near Mission Impossible win in his own title quest against the formidable IBF defending world champion Moruti Mthalane this December.
The fight is set five days before Christmas in Mthalane's birthplace of Durban, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa with Moruti enjoying more than homecourt advantage over the Filipino.
Mama's edge would only be age at a youthful 24 and about half an inch in height against the 39 year old South African warrior who aside from his extensive ring experience where he has registered thus far an impressive 39-2, 26 KOs record in nearly two decades of fighting, would also enjoy a decisive six inches reach advantage over the Filipino.
Mthalane's wingspan of 69 inches is longer than his height of 5'3 1/2" and this has enabled him to reach into, outpoint or knock out many of his mostly taller opponents.
The South African last lost more than twelve years ago in 2008 by late round stoppage on account of eye injury to then IBF flyweight champion Nonito Donaire in a very competitive fight.
His first defeat, also by knockout came in 2004 at the hands of fellow South African toughie Nkquela Gwazela who is now retired. They fought for the South African and WBC international flyweight belts but Mthalane was then barely into his 15th bout after turning pro in December 2000.
Since his last defeat, Mthalane has gone on a winning tear, ascending to the IBF throne in 2009 by beating Mexican Julio Cesar Miranda after Donaire moved up and holding it up to 2012 when assortment of injuries forced him to semi retire. He came back in 2014 and won the vacant IBO crown by edging Filipino Jether Oliva which he held until 2017 when he regained the vacated IBF crown by defeating then unbeaten Pakistani Wassem Muhammad.
Among the other prominent fighters Mthalane has faced and defeated included Zolani Tete and Johnriel Casimero in succession in IBF title defenses, both by knockout, Hussein Hussein, Julio Cesar Miranda, Jether Oliva, Genesis Libranza, Masayuki Koruda and Akira Yaegashi.
Mthalane is 6-1 thus far versus Pinoy opponents, losing only to Donaire but beating Apol Suico, Casimero, Oliva, Libranza, Renz Rosia and Ardin Diale, mostly by stoppage.
Mama therefore is facing a tall order and long odds in trying to break Mthalane's lengthy unbeaten string and avoiding his being the South African's seventh Pinoy ring victim.
Though undefeated with a 15-0, 8 KOs record, fighting Mthalane would a huge step up in class for Mama who has faced and defeated mostly fellow Pinoy opponents at home.
Mama though has had some experience fighting overseas last year when he won the Silkroad tournament in China beating Thai world rated Teerapong Uthaida in the finals in Beijing after disposing off his Chinese semis foe in Macau.
Mama last saw action early this year where he stopped Reymark Taday.
Mthalane has not fought since December 2019 when he successfully defended his IBF crown by outpointing ex champion Akira Yaegshi, his third straight Japanese title challenger since 2018.
Let us hope Mama overachieves and that Mthalane suddenly feels his age and becomes unused to facing a non Japanese opponent for the first time in more than two years.
The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.
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