Earlier today in Japan, South Africa’s unbeaten Phumelele Cafu won the WBO super flyweight title, with a fifth-round knockdown, and a final split decision win over Japan’s Kosei Tanaka.
This is a dream come true for the Duncan Village-born boxer.
In an interview after the fight, Cafu commented “I’m speechless,” said a jubilant Cafu. “This is everything I ever wanted. My whole life. My whole career.”
The Judges fight score cards read 114-113 – duplicated for the first two judges in Catu’s favor, while one judge marked the same score but for Tanaka in a contentious decision.
There was not much in it, and the big, crunching right hand knockdown in the fifth round made all the difference in the end.
Tanaka, with a career record of 20 wins (11 KOs) and two losses, t took the early initiative in the fight with Catu opting to defend and counter. Cafu missed several big left hooks early in the second round but connected with the shot as Tanaka closed the space between them in the middle of the round.
Cafu, 11 wins (8 KOs), and three losses had his moments in the third, and his trainer, Colin Nathan, could be heard cheering his every success, shouting “Yes” each time from the corner.
Having thrown so many left hooks in the earlier rounds, it was Cafu’s right hand that had stopped the champion in the fifth round.
Cafu kept his composure for the rest of the fight while Tanaka did see an improvement later in the seventh round, he simply did not do enough to justify keeping the title.
South African Minister of Sport, Gayton McKensie, congratulated the south African Bantamweight Champion on X, for his win as a new South African World Champion.
