KEMPTON PARK — Ricardo Malajika lived up to his nickname of "The Magic Man" with a comprehensive second-round stoppage over fellow South African Jackson Chauke.

Heading into the Golden Gloves show at Emperors Palace opinion was split on who would emerge victorious and most expected a long hard-fought battle.

The fight, which was between two IBO champions, Malajika (15-2, 11 knockouts) at junior bantamweight and Chauke (24-3-2, 15 KOs) at flyweight but Malajika dropped three pounds to contest the flyweight title. Though will go back up to junior bantamweight.

In the first round each man took a look at the other, looking to bait the other but nobody bit. However, it didn't take long for Chauke to look to close the distance. That proved his undoing as he walked into a blinding combination that dropped him into a heap in his corner. He rose gingerly and was allowed to continue.

Chauke looked to clinch, while Malajika stayed composed and landed a nice bodyshot and then threw a sharp combination to the head which put Chauke flat on his back. Again, he attempted to make it to his feet but his cornerman, Damien Durandt, had seen enough and advised the referee to call a halt to proceeds at 2:01 of Round 2.

"I expected a very tough fight but thanks to my coach, thanks to everyone who pushed me in the camp and because of them we got a great stoppage," said Malajika. "I saw an opportunity, I saw he got hurt for the bodyshot and I was like grab it now, you never know what happens later on."

This should be considered a career best win for Malajika and put the junior bantamweight division on notice. While it's going to be tough for Chauke, now 40, to come again after suffering a first inside the distance defeat in his career.

In chief support, Brandon Thysse edged home by 10-round majority decision in a close battle with Charles Shinima at junior middleweight.

The fight started a little slow but picked up by the fourth round when both let their hands go. Thysse (18-4-1, 13 KOs) looked like he'd broken through and hurt Shinima (18-2, 12 KOs) in the sixth, forcing the Namibian to hold on.

In the seventh both sensed they could force a stoppage and threw some heavy punches. In the later stages the fight got a little scrappy.

At the end of 10-rounds the fight went to the scorecards, neither could be confident of victory. It was Thysse who got the nod, 97-93, 96-94, which outvoted the other judge who couldn't separate them scoring the fight 95-95.

A four-man tournament at light heavyweight dubbed "Rising Titans" took place.

Bonginkosi Nhlapo and Michael Head met in a rematch that saw the two of them fight a four-round draw in November 2023.

Again, they fought a close fight but this time Head claimed the victory by 8-round split decision.

Nhlapo (3-2-1, 1 KO) looked the more skilled and boxed well early with his left jab keeping Head (3-1-1, 1 KO) off balance. However, once Head started to make the fight a dogfight it levelled the playing field.

Although Head looked to suffocate Nhlapo he also took away his own space in which to work.

In the other light heavyweight contest, Bryan Thysse (6-0, 2 KOs) held off a fantastic effort from Tuvia Wewege (5-3) to win the fight of the night by 8-round split decision.

Both men got straight to action and had success backing the other up in a lively opener. Thysse got the better of things in the second with some snappy right hands, but Wewege barrelled forward was the aggressor forcing Thysse to the ropes and landed a crunching left hand late in Round 3 to pick up the round. Wewege continued to be the aggressor and looked like he may overwhelm Thysse in Round 5.

Neither backed down and fought each other to a standstill in a heated seventh round that had the crowd cheering. In the later rounds both had their share of moments, but neither could really assert their dominance.

The three judges were left to decide this excellent contest. Two leaned towards Thysse 77-75, while the other 76-75 for Wewege.

Head will meet Thysse in the final on May 31. The two will contest the vacant South African light heavyweight title and also 250,000 R (around $13,500 USD).

In the opening fight of the night Tyla Promnick got the action underway stopping Emma Mohono in three-rounds at strawweight.

The taller Promnick (2-0, 2 KOs) boxed well in the opening two rounds behind her southpaw jab and backed up her opponent, who was making her debut.

In the third round, the 20-year-old pushed Mohono (0-1) into the neutral corner and flailed away until the referee jumped into end matters at 1:13 of the third round.

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