SWEPT OFF HIS FEET: Zolani Marali down and out during the IBO international lightweight title match against Mlungisi Dlamini at Emperors Palace at the weekend
Photograph by: Lefty Shivambu / Gallo Images
Credit: Lefty Shivambu / Gallo Images

'The plan was to let him start throwing punches, think I'm an easy target'

Baloyi was sublime on Friday night as he outboxed Roberto Arrieta to win the No2 spot on the IBF's junior-lightweight rankings, which means that he will get a third crack at that title, possibly by the middle of next year.

Baloyi, returning after a crushing TKO defeat at the hands of Malcolm Klassen in April, was over the moon with his performance.

"People said I was finished after my last fight, but I showed them."

Southpaw Marali was also on the comeback trail on Saturday night after losing his IBO junior-lightweight belt on a TKO in September.

But the first time "The Shark" Dlamini put glove to chin - late in the fourth round - this IBO lightweight title clash was over.

Until then Marali had back-pedalled, throwing the occasional punch at his chasing opponent, but Dlamini explained afterwards how the fight had gone according to the script.

"The plan was to let him start throwing punches, gain confidence, and think that I'm an easy target," said Dlamini.

"We knew he would eventually drop his hands."

The first time Marali tried to trade, Dlamini unleashed his right - short, sharp and sweet.

Marali, who was not suspended after his TKO loss in September, was slapped with a 60-day ban straight after Saturday's defeat.

But to argue that he returned to the ring too quickly underplays the quality of Dlamini's punch - if Marali were to get nailed with the identical blow next year, he'll topple like a felled tree yet again.

Marali's future is uncertain at this stage.

"I don't know," said trainer Colin Nathan. "We must sit down early in the new year and discuss it.

"If Zolani wants to continue boxing, I believe he must stay at lightweight. He really struggled to make junior-lightweight (in his previous bout)."

Dlamini confirmed that Marali carried power at lightweight.

"He hits hard. He stunned me with a right hook that made me think: 'Let me tighten my defence'."

On the same bill "Tommy Gun" Oosthuizen also scored a fourth-round knockout, laying out South African super-middleweight champion Tshepang Mohale with his vaunted left hand.

Southpaw Oosthuizen had fought well from the start, fighting off the back foot but throwing frequent punches before delivering the KO blow. The South African title wasn't on the line.