How about some #1 Ranked WBA Challengers from South Africa Norman 'Pangaman' Sekgapane Ranked as the #1 WBA Light-Welterweight The 30 year-old, challenges WBA Champion *Antonio Cervantes {August 1978} The fight held at Independence Stadium, Mmabatho, South Africa The 'Pangaman' with a record of 51-6-1 (21 KO's), which was built up by fighting mainly 135 lb. opponents, gets blown out by Kid Pambele in '9' one-sided rounds. The 'light-punching' South African, after his 'failed' 1978 WBA Championship effort, goes 2-8-0 in his next '10 bouts, before retiring. Did he deserve a Championship Title Shot. Yes, but not at 140 lbs. (Light-Welterweight). Was he a legitimate #1 (140 lb.) Light-Welterweight,,,,Hell No. At his best, he was maybe a #8 (135 lb.) Lightweight.
What about another South African who challenged for a title(I have the fight, a brutal one punch right hand K.O) Bashew Sibaca? A touted amateur. Awkward and sloppy, got battered.
'Baby' Jake Matlala Peter 'Terror' Mathebula Joe N'gidi Vic & Willie Toweel Laurie Stevens Jacob 'Dancing shoes' Morake (Only guy to ever beat Brian Mitchell.)
Posted these before, not long ago. Fitting for the thread. Some brutal KO's. (Not my uploads.) [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEllaPtMiVY[/ame] [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5QcCmik7bI[/ame] [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGfijv2agms[/ame]
Bashew Sibaca Another one of those mystery WBA #1 Ranked Challengers. Posted a 47-15-2 (12 KO's) record, another one fighting primarily 'B' level opponents. Goes 30-12-2, campaigning as a 118. Bantamweight thru 1975. Moves to up to the 126 lb. Featherweight Division in 1976, and goes 17-3-0 (7 KO's) thru 1981. Emerged as the #1 WBA Featherweight in late-1981. The 29 year-old veteran earns a WBA Featherweight Championship fight versus, Eusubio Pedroza in December 1981. Gets 'blown out' and Knocked-out in '5' one-sided rounds. Soon after, fades away after going 3-5-0 in his next '8' bouts. A #1 Featherweight,,,,,,,,,not on his best day at 126 lbs. He was good enough to make the lower-tier of the Top 10 (#8 thru #10), but the 'light-punching' 5' 5" South African was not a serious threat to any of the Top Featherweights.
had very little free time of late FOF but i did catch your Toweel thread not long ago, appreciate the time you spent to share that info :good
South African Lightweight Andries Steyn Actually a pretty good 'all-around' boxer. Made it into the WBA Top 10 Lightweight rankings several times in the 1970's. Turned 'professional' in 1964, at age 18. Won the South African Featherweight Title in just his '4th' bout in September 1965. And just '2-months' later, won the South African Lightweight Title in November 1965. Looked sharp in compiling a 25-2-0 (15 KO's) record thru March 1972, and edged himself into the 'Top 10' Lightweight rankings. In April 1972, fought WBA Lightweight Champion, *Ken Buchanan, in a 'non-title' bout, held in South Africa. Was 'over-matched', and got demolished (L KO 3). Bounced back from that defeat, by winning his next '6' bouts, incuding victories over World-Rated fighters; Billy Waith, Kokkie Oliver, former WBC Featherweight Champion Kuniaki Shibata, a 'non-title' bout win over WBC Super-Featherweight Champion Ricardo Arrendondo, and Miguel Mayon. His 'impressive run' earned him a #7 Lightweight ranking by Ring Magazine in 1973. But '2' losses in 1974, dropped him out of the Top 10. From 1974 thru 1978, Andries still was a Top 20 Lightweight contender. Won and held the South African Lightweight Title in; 1965-1966 1969 1971-1975 1978 Finished his career, with a fine record of 42-7-1 (23 KO's). Never fought for a 'World Championship'.
My pleasure. :good I'm actually trying to get to meet Willie through a mutual friend. I've heard he's suffering badly from Parkinson's these days though, so it may be a bit disapointing.
Since this thread derailed from d topic of "best" i have 2 mention Herman Ngoudju whom i did not forget initially just decided not 2 include him because it is doubtful that he is 1 of Africa's best ever . But now i do since he was still better than most of d names mentioned in this thread so far .
South African Super-Featherweight Nkosana 'Happy Boy' Mgxaji Turned Professional, May 1969 Went on a '73' bout tear in South Africa, including winning the South African 'non-white' Super Featherweight Championship. The 29 year-old 'Happy Boy', earned a #1 WBA-rating in 1979, with a remarkable record of 70-1-2 (26 KO's) On April 14, 1979 - fought for the WBA Super-Featherweight Championsip, versus Puerto Rico's Samuel Serrano, in South Africa. Was competitive for most of the bout, and even floored the 'stylish' Champion in Round 5. But faded soon after, and was floored and eventually stopped {L KO 8}. Resumed his career, by going 19-7-1 in his last '27' bouts. Retired on December 1985, at age 36, with a record of 89-9-3 (28 KO's) Was an excellent boxer with 'lightning' fast hands. Did post some good wins over some lower Top 20 ranked fighters in both the Super-Featherweight and Lightweight Divisions. His impressive record by April 1979 at 70-1-2, did deserve a Top Super-Featherweight ranking.
Nice info Pepe, as usual. I have no doubt that some of these mystery #1 rankings of SA fighters was the result of some shady business between the WBA and the SABBoC. Anyway, some were deserving of their ranking, and some were not.
South African Light-Middleweight Solomon 'Bushy' Bester Turned Professional, January 1977 (Age 20) By September 1980, at age 24, got to 19-2-0 (13 KO's) and earned the #1 WBA Light-Middleweight ranking. Along the way, had won the Transvaal and South African Light-Middleweight Championships. Quality wins over 'countryman' Gert Steyn (2x) and #9 WBA Alvin Anderson moved him up to the Top-Ranked WBA Light-Middleweight. The South African 'contingent' were saying that Ayub Kalule was 'afraid' of Bushy Bester and his 'KO-Power' right-hand. September 1980, travelled to Denmark, to get the 'daylights' boxed out of him by WBA Champion Ayub Kalue. Lost '12' of the '15' rounds, but did stun the 'Great Ugandan' a couple of times, enroute to a 'lop-sided' Decision loss. Continued, and went 8-1-0 (4 KO's) in his last '9' bouts. Retired in June 1983, with a record of 27-4-0 (17 KO's). A good general 'all-around' 154 lb. boxer-puncher. Good enough to be in the lower-tier Top 10 from 1979 thru 1981, but nowhere near the #1 Ranking.
