# Thulani Malinga

Thulani Malinga (born 11 December 1955) is a South African former professional boxer who competed from 1981 to 2000, and held the WBC super-middleweight title twice between 1996 and 1998.

## Professional career

Known as "Sugar Boy", Malinga turned pro in 1981 after compiling an amateur record of 185–10. He began his career with a first-round stoppage of Victor Zulu on 8 August 1981. Malinga held several championship titles during a twenty-year career as a middleweight, super middleweight and light heavyweight, fighting memorable bouts against Nigel Benn, Chris Eubank and Roy Jones Jr., among others.
In 1989 he got his first shot at a title, taking on undefeated IBF super middleweight title holder Graciano Rocchigiani. Malinga lost a decision, and the next year took on Lindell Holmes, again for the IBF super middleweight title. He again lost via decision, and in 1992 got a shot at the WBO super middleweight title against Chris Eubank, during which Malinga was dropped in the fifth round and lost a close decision. Three months later he was also to lose a close decision—by just half a point—against Nigel Benn. After many fights in his native South Africa, and a further KO loss to Roy Jones Jr. in the U.S., he landed another shot at the title in March 1996 against Benn, who was now the WBC super middleweight champion. Despite suffering a knockdown, Malinga scored an upset against Benn to win the title, but ended up losing the title in his first defense against Vincenzo Nardiello. He regained the title in his next fight, a decision win over Robin Reid (who had defeated Nardiello in his first defense of the title). However, he would again lose the belt in his first defense against Richie Woodhall, via decision. He fought four more times, retiring after a suffering an eighth-round TKO against Ole Klemetsen on 14 January 2000, finishing his career with 44 wins (20 by KO) and 13 losses. His trainer was Nick Durandt.

## Professional boxing record

| 57 fights | 44 wins | 13 losses |
| By knockout | 19 | 3 |
| By decision | 25 | 9 |
| By disqualification | 0 | 1 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 57 | Loss | 44–13 | Ole Klemetsen | TKO | 8 (12), 2:40 | 14 Jan 2000 | Koldinghallerne, Kolding, Denmark | For vacant IBA light-heavyweight title |
| 56 | Loss | 44–12 | Mads Larsen | TKO | 10 (12) | 19 Mar 1999 | Falkoner Center, Copenhagen, Denmark | Lost WBF (Federation) super-middleweight title; For IBO super-middleweight title |
| 55 | Win | 44–11 | Peter H Madsen | RTD | 8 (12), 3:00 | 27 Nov 1998 | Vejlby-Risskov Hallen, Aarhus, Denmark | Retained WBF (Federation) super-middleweight title |
| 54 | Win | 43–11 | Fredrik Alvarez | TKO | 11 (12) | 5 Jun 1998 | K.B. Hallen, Copenhagen, Denmark | Won WBF (Federation) super-middleweight title |
| 53 | Loss | 42–11 | Richie Woodhall | UD | 12 | 27 Mar 1998 | Ice Rink, Telford, England | Lost WBC super-middleweight title |
| 52 | Win | 42–10 | Robin Reid | UD | 12 | 19 Dec 1997 | London Arena, London, England | Won WBC super-middleweight title |
| 51 | Loss | 41–10 | Vincenzo Nardiello | SD | 12 | 6 Jul 1996 | NYNEX Arena, Manchester, England | Lost WBC super-middleweight title |
| 50 | Win | 41–9 | Nigel Benn | SD | 12 | 2 Mar 1996 | Telewest Arena, Newcastle, England | Won WBC super-middleweight title |
| 49 | Win | 40–9 | Trevor Ambrose | PTS | 8 | 22 Jul 1995 | London Arena, London, England | |
| 48 | Win | 39–9 | Soon Botes | TKO | 7 (12) | 4 Mar 1995 | Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, South Africa | Won South African super-middleweight title |
| 47 | Win | 38–9 | Martin Opperman | TKO | 9 (12) | 20 Nov 1994 | Wembley Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa | Retained South African light-heavyweight title |
| 46 | Win | 37–9 | Ray Acquaye | TKO | 5 (12) | 14 Aug 1994 | Hotel Casino, Wild Coast, South Africa | Won vacant African super-middleweight title |
| 45 | Win | 36–9 | Mohammed Isaacs | KO | 7 (12) | 20 Feb 1994 | Nasrec Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa | Retained South African light-heavyweight title |
| 44 | Loss | 35–9 | Roy Jones Jr. | KO | 6 (10), 1:57 | 14 Aug 1993 | Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, US | |
| 43 | Win | 35–8 | Gary Ballard | UD | 12 | 10 Feb 1993 | City Hall, Durban, South Africa | Retained South African light-heavyweight title |
| 42 | Win | 34–8 | Jim Murray | MD | 12 | 14 Sep 1992 | Nasrec Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa | Retained South African light-heavyweight title |
| 41 | Loss | 33–8 | Nigel Benn | PTS | 10 | 23 May 1992 | National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, England | |
| 40 | Loss | 33–7 | Chris Eubank | SD | 12 | 1 Feb 1992 | National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, England | For WBO super-middleweight title |
| 39 | Win | 33–6 | Leonard Friedman | UD | 10 | 13 Aug 1991 | Morula Sun Casino, Mabopane, South Africa | |
| 38 | Loss | 32–6 | Lindell Holmes | UD | 12 | 15 Dec 1990 | Palazzo del Ghiaccio, Marino, Italy | For IBF super-middleweight title |
| 37 | Win | 32–5 | Sakkie Horn | PTS | 12 | 11 Oct 1990 | Nasrec Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa | Won South African light-heavyweight title |
| 36 | Loss | 31–5 | John Jarvis | MD | 12 | 5 Aug 1990 | Barranquilla, Colombia | For IBF Inter-Continental super-middleweight title |
| 35 | Win | 31–4 | Tony Harrison | UD | 10 | 29 Jan 1990 | FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| 34 | Win | 30–4 | Oscar Pena | UD | 10 | 5 Dec 1989 | FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| 33 | Win | 29–4 | Jose Quinones | TKO | 8 (10) | 21 Oct 1989 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
| 32 | Win | 28–4 | Vincent Boulware | MD | 10 | 18 Sep 1989 | Portuguese Hall, Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| 31 | Win | 27–4 | Nicky Walker | UD | 10 | 27 May 1989 | Superbowl, Sun City, South Africa | |
| 30 | Win | 26–4 | Mike Peak | UD | 10 | 11 Mar 1989 | Indoor Centre, Springs, South Africa | |
| 29 | Loss | 25–4 | Graciano Rocchigiani | UD | 12 | 27 Jan 1989 | Deutschlandhalle, West Berlin, West Germany | For IBF super-middleweight title |
| 28 | Win | 25–3 | Larry Musgrove | SD | 10 | 18 Jul 1988 | West Ridge Park Tennis Stadium, Durban, South Africa | |
| 27 | Win | 24–3 | Jim MacDonald | UD | 10 | 7 Mar 1988 | Oppenheimer Stadium, Orkney, South Africa | |
| 26 | Win | 23–3 | Harry Cowap | UD | 10 | 1 Feb 1988 | Standard Bank Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| 25 | Loss | 22–3 | Sakkie Horn | DQ | 12 (12) | 21 Nov 1987 | Indoor Centre, Springs, South Africa | For South African light-heavyweight title; Malinga disqualified for an intentional low blow |
| 24 | Win | 22–2 | Prince Tukane | TKO | 4 (10) | 18 Oct 1987 | City Hall, East London, South Africa | |
| 23 | Loss | 21–2 | Sakkie Horn | SD | 12 | 9 May 1987 | Far North Rugby Stadium, Pietersburg, South Africa | Lost South African light-heavyweight title |
| 22 | Win | 21–1 | Freddie Rafferty | UD | 12 | 15 Dec 1986 | West Ridge Park Tennis Stadium, Durban, South Africa | Retained South African light-heavyweight title |
| 21 | Win | 20–1 | Sakkie Horn | PTS | 12 | 19 Oct 1986 | Portuguese Hall, Johannesburg, South Africa | Won South African light-heavyweight title |
| 20 | Win | 19–1 | Gregory Clark | UD | 12 | 28 Jun 1986 | Eldorado Park Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa | Retained South African middleweight title |
| 19 | Win | 18–1 | Pieter de Bruin | TKO | 8 (12) | 8 Mar 1986 | Crown Mines Showgrounds, Johannesburg, South Africa | Retained South African middleweight title |
| 18 | Win | 17–1 | Kosie van Vuuren | RTD | 10 (12) | 14 Dec 1985 | Currie's Fountain, Durban, South Africa | Retained South African middleweight title |
| 17 | Win | 16–1 | Pieter de Bruin | PTS | 6 | 27 Jul 1985 | Superbowl, Sun City, South Africa | |
| 16 | Win | 15–1 | Frankie Decaestecker | RTD | 5 | 22 Jun 1985 | Bleskop Stadium, Rustenburg, South Africa | |
| 15 | Win | 14–1 | Robert Madi | TKO | 8 (8) | 20 Apr 1985 | Currie's Fountain, Durban, South Africa | |
| 14 | Win | 13–1 | Gavin Stirrup | KO | 2 (10) | 15 Mar 1985 | Riverlea Hall, Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| 13 | Win | 12–1 | Mwehu Beya | RTD | 6 (10) | 26 Oct 1984 | Riverlea Hall, Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| 12 | Win | 11–1 | Michael Motsoane | UD | 12 | 15 Jun 1984 | Riverlea Hall, Johannesburg, South Africa | Retained South African middleweight title |
| 11 | Win | 10–1 | Prince Tukane | PTS | 8 | 1 May 1984 | West Ridge Park Tennis Stadium, Durban, South Africa | |
| 10 | Win | 9–1 | John Diamini | KO | 4 (10) | 27 Feb 1984 | City Hall, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | |
| 9 | Win | 8–1 | Samson Mohloai | UD | 12 | 7 Feb 1983 | West Ridge Park Tennis Stadium, Durban, South Africa | Won vacant South African middleweight title |
| 8 | Win | 7–1 | David Kalako | PTS | 6 | 4 Oct 1982 | West Ridge Park Tennis Stadium, Durban, South Africa | |
| 7 | Win | 6–1 | Shadrack Sithole | KO | 2 (10) | 13 Sep 1982 | City Hall, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | Won Natal middleweight title |
| 6 | Win | 5–1 | Graham Mdingi | RTD | 2 (6) | 28 Aug 1982 | Steadeville School Hall, Ladysmith, South Africa | |
| 5 | Win | 4–1 | Morris Mohloai | PTS | 6 | 5 Jun 1982 | Limit Hill Tennis Stadium, Ladysmith, South Africa | |
| 4 | Loss | 3–1 | Patrick Tshabalala | PTS | 6 | 17 Apr 1982 | Showgrounds, Ermelo, South Africa | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Werdie Jacobs | KO | 4 (4) | 30 Nov 1981 | West Ridge Park Tennis Stadium, Durban, South Africa | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Cyprian Shandu | PTS | 4 | 12 Sep 1981 | Seaman's Institute Hall, Durban, South Africa | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Victor Zulu | TKO | 1 (4) | 8 Aug 1981 | Seaman's Institute Hall, Durban, South Africa | Professional debut |