HITTING HARD: Cassius Baloyi, left, pummelling Gairy St Clair of Australia during their Super Featherweight title match held at Emperors Palace Casino in Kempton Park, back in 2007. Pic: Lefty Shivambu. © Gallo Images

If the real Baloyi turns up, he should win easily

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• Cassius Baloyi beats Roberto Arrieta

Baloyi lost his IBF crown to Malcolm Klassen in April on a seventh-round TKO in what surely ranks as the six-times world champion's worst performance in his 16-year career.

Baloyi, who turns 35 on Thursday, will have to show he still has the moves against Argentina's Roberto Arrieta in an eliminator for his old IBF junior-lightweight belt, which takes place at the Wembley indoor arena.

Arrieta, 33, has visited these shores before, losing on points to Mzonke Fana in 2006. If the real Baloyi turns up, he should win comfortably, but if he struggles then it won't be a good sign.

Baloyi has a record of 36 wins, four losses and a draw. Arrieta is on 34-14-4.

At Emperor's Palace tomorrow night, Zolani Marali faces a tough task when he takes on Mlungisi Dlamini for the vacant IBO lightweight title. Marali has moved up a division after losing his marginal IBO junior-light belt on a ninth-round TKO after getting tagged late by Ji Hoon Kim, of Korea, last month. The South African had been leading on the scorecards but he tired rapidly in the last few rounds.

He complained afterwards that he had pulled too much weight - so now he tests his skills against "The Shark" Dlamini, a fully fledged lightweight.

Unbeaten Dlamini might not be able to match Marali for pure skill, but his power and aggression will certainly provide a stern test.

Marali, who has won four peripheral crowns, starting at junior-featherweight, is a former South African champion with a 20-3 (13 KOs) record.

Dlamini, who will lose the peripheral WBF lightweight belt for taking this bout, is 20-0-1 (12 KOs). His most impressive victory was a unanimous decision over Australian Gairy St Clair, who boasts a 2006 win over Baloyi.

On the same bill is undefeated "Tommy Gun" Oosthuizen, who takes on South African super-middleweight champion Tshepang Mohale.

On Baloyi's undercard tonight, Mikey Schultz (allegedly involved in the killing of Brett Kebble) fights a six-round super-middleweight bout against Samuel Mathebula.

• Baloyi's bout will be broadcast on SABC2 from 10pm, and tomorrow's tournament will be broadcast on Supersport2 from 8pm.