Misplaced Pages

Ludumo Lamati (born 19 May 1992) is a South African professional boxer. He held the IBO super bantamweight title from June 2021 to May 2022. As an amateur, he competed at the 2011 World Championships.

He was nicknamed 9mm after a semiautomatic pistol by his former trainer, Nick Durandt.

Amateur career

Lamati was involved in many fights as a schoolboy, which led a friend of his to bring him to a boxing gym to introduce him to the sport. He received a scholarship to train at the gym when he was 13. Lamati had over 100 amateur bouts, losing just ten of them. He competed at the 2011 World Championships, where he lost his first fight against Francisco Torrijos of Spain, as well as the 2011 All-Africa Games.

Professional career

Lamati made his professional debut on 10 April 2014, defeating Bongani Bhuti on points in Johannesburg. After compiling a 9–0–1 record, he outpointed Innocent Mantengu in December 2016 for the vacant African super bantamweight title. In his next fight, Lamati upset veteran Bongani Mahlangu for the South African super bantamweight title. He defeated former world title challenger Luis Meléndez three months later to capture the vacant IBF Inter-Continental super bantamweight title, and successfully defended it against Alexis Boureima Kabore that December. In July 2018 Lamati signed a promotional deal with Southampton-based Siesta Boxing Promotions (SBP). He only fought once in England during his stint there, however, beating late replacement Brayan Mairena on a SBP-promoted card in Bracknell on Saint Patrick's Day 2019. He made his return to South Africa on 28 July 2019, headlining a Rumble Africa Promotions event against Richie Mepranum for the vacant IBF Inter-Continental super bantamweight title. Lamati outboxed the southpaw veteran, forcing a corner retirement before the start of the 11th round to claim the IBF Inter-Continental belt for the second time.

Although he didn't fight in 2020, Lamati reached as high as number four in the WBC divisional rankings. He signed with South African promoter Rodney Berman of Golden Gloves Boxing in January 2021. On 19 June 2021, Lamati defeated José Martín Estrada García by majority decision in Kempton Park to claim the vacant IBO super bantamweight title, with the judge's scorecards reading 116–112, 115–113, 114–114.

Lamati faced Haidari Mchanjo on 22 May 2022, following a near year-long absence from the sport. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with two scorecards of 100–90 and one scorecard of 97–92. Lamati next faced Ken Jordan on 2 October 2022. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 98–93, 98–92 and 98–92. As he struggled to make the bantamweight limit against Jordan, Lamati moved up to super bantamweight for his next bout, against Mark Anthony Geraldo on 17 November 2022. He won the fight by a fourth-round knockout.

Professional boxing record

References

1. "Boxing record for Ludumo Lamati". BoxRec.
2. "Lamati's vow to put Kabore to sleep". News24. 3 December 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
3. ^ Tebbutt, Rob (13 November 2018). "Ludumo Lamati: Introducing 9mm". Boxing Social. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
4. "Bout of boxers in 56 weight category starts in Baku". Today.az. 27 September 2011. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
5. "Mahlangu and Lamati are ready for war". News24. 30 April 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
6. Zifo, Mesuli (2 May 2017). "Classy Lamati puts the cherry on the title cake". Daily Dispatch. Retrieved 22 October 2021 – via PressReader.
7. ^ Pradarics, Tamas (27 July 2018). "Ludumo Lamati Signs Promotional Pact With Al Siesta". Boxing Scene. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
8. Hadi, Dom (19 March 2019). "The St Patrick's Brawl to Top Them All: Report from Bracknell". Southpaw Jab. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
9. Zifo, Mesuli (22 July 2019). "Prodigal son returns". Daily Dispatch. Retrieved 22 October 2021 – via PressReader.
10. Malan, Droeks (29 July 2019). "Ludumo Lamati scores stoppage win over Richie Mepranum in South Africa". The Ring. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
11. Magasela, Bongani (12 March 2021). "Fight could get Ludumo on track". The Sowetan. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
12. Rickson, Tim (14 October 2020). "WBC release October 2020 world rankings". British Boxing News. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
13. Wainwright, Anson (13 January 2021). "Junior feather contender Lodumo Lamati signs with Rodney Berman". The Ring. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
14. Isaacson, David (19 June 2021). "Ludumo Lamati withstands Garcia's Mexican assault to lift IBO belt". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
15. Gibbs, Herman (20 May 2022). "Classy Ludumo Lamati is ready to hit the big time by using Haidari Mchanjo as a stepping stone". iol.co.za. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
16. Jackson, Ron (23 May 2022). "Ludumo Lamati outscores Haidari Mchanjo". fightnews.com. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
17. Zifo, Mesuli (4 October 2022). "Lamati to move up a division after weight struggle". heraldlive.co.za. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
18. Zifo, Mesuli (16 November 2022). "Lamati in quest for another world title against Filipino foe". dispatchlive.co.za. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
19. Mnyandu, Velile (19 November 2022). "Ludumo Lamati cruises in new division". sabcsport.com. Retrieved 20 December 2022.

External links

• Boxing record for Ludumo Lamati from BoxRec (registration required)

• Living people
• 1992 births
• South African male boxers
• Super-bantamweight boxers
• African Boxing Union champions
• International Boxing Organization champions
• Competitors at the 2011 All-Africa Games
• African Games competitors for South Africa
• Boxers from Mdantsane
• 21st-century South African sportsmen