Headlining next Monday at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. IBF world flyweight title at stake, Mthalane's second defense of his second reign. The barnstorming champion has long been the "boxing hipsters' pick" for most underrated talent from South Africa in probably a generation. Unbelievably, he is riding an eleven year unbeaten streak dating to his TKO6 loss to a prime Nonito Donaire in 2008...and the crazy part is his opposition has been largely pretty damn good, while staying fairly active until the age of 36! The challenger is ranked #4 by the IBF and was, as of this same time last year, top five in every major org (the other three presumably dropped him - or simply promoted others past him - due to inactivity). He is a two-division Japanese national champion and, IB funfact - interesting tidbit of trivia here that you won't find on his pro record - he was selected by the JBC as Naoya Inoue's "test opponent", to gauge how well he performed in an exhibition before licensing him for his pro debut. Mthalane has an edge in power (although Kuroda is plenty heavy-handed), skill and speed...while Kuroda is bigger and more durable.
Kuroda really is overdue to win gold. Head says Mthalane but something tells me the Japanese fighter might just seize the moment and put everything together to eek out a win. Good fight this.
He is objectively the greater fighter if we're zooming out to a historical view, but...father time is undefeated. Guy is 36, ancient for a fly. That said, Kuroda is 32, no spring chicken himself...
None of the Asian boxing resident experts see this one as competitive including Asian boxing themselves in their own write up. Logical to strongly favor Mthalane but is it really a forgone conclusion kind of scenario? Mthalane is a consistent longtime elite but as it's been stated is 36 and the physically smaller fighter. Would be an upset if he were to lose but not a huge one.
