Jeffrey Mathebula (born 22 June 1979) is a South African professional boxer who competed from 2001 to 2013. He held the IBF junior featherweight title in 2012.

Jeffrey Tutu Mathebula
Born
Jeffrey Mathebula

(1979-06-22) 22 June 1979 (age 45)
Malamulele, South Africa
NationalitySouth African
Other namesMongoose[2]
Statistics
Weight(s)Super Bantamweight
Height5 ft 10 in (178 cm)[1]
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights34
Wins27
Wins by KO14
Losses5
Draws2

Amateur career

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Mathebula competed for his native country at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney in the Men's Featherweight division, where he defeated Noureddine Madjhoud in the first round and lost to Bekzat Sattarkhanov in the second round.[1] He finished his amateur career with a record of 101–4.[3]

Professional career

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Mathebula made his professional debut on 17 February 2001, and has been managed and trained by Nick Durandt and promoted by Branco Sports Promotions.[2] He fought to a draw with Malcolm Klassen in a six-round bout in Temba, North West in September 2004.[4]

Mathebula defeated Julio Zarate via a unanimous decision with the scores of 117–109 twice and 118–109 in an IBF super bantamweight title eliminator in Temba on 29 August 2008, after knocking him down twice in the tenth-round. He was supposed to challenge the then IBF super bantamweight champion Steve Molitor,[4][5] but Molitor lost to Celestino Caballero. Hence, Mathebula fought against Caballero for the WBA Super World and IBF World super bantamweight title. However, he lost his first world title shot against Caballero via a split decision at the Roberto Duran Arena in Panama on 30 April 2009.[2][6]

After losing to Takalani Ndlovu via a split decision in an IBF junior featherweight title eliminator in Brakpan, Gauteng in September 2010,[2] Mathebula defeated Ndlovu via a split decision in their rematch in Brakpan to be crowned the IBF junior featherweight champion.[7] It was the SABC-televised first boxing event after one year interruption.[8]

Mathebula v. Donaire

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In one of the more defining and memorable fights, Mathebula fought the hard-hitting, WBO Super Bantamweight Champion Nonito Donaire (29–1 18 KO's). Donaire is rated by The Ring as the number five pound-for-pound boxer in the world. It was a unification fight for IBF and WBO Super Bantamweight belts. The bout was Live on HBO Boxing After Dark on 7 July 2012 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, California. Donaire defeated Methebula by unanimous decision. Donaire knocked Mathebula down in round four, breaking his jaw in two places.[9][10]

Professional boxing record

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34 fights 27 wins 5 losses
By knockout 14 2
By decision 13 3
Draws 2
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
34 Loss 27–5–2 Kiko Martínez KO 9 (12), 2:05 21 Dec 2013 Pabellón Esperanza Lag, Elche, Spain For IBF super bantamweight title
33 Win 27–4–2 Takalani Ndlovu UD 12 23 Mar 2013 Carnival City Casino, Brakpan, South Africa
32 Loss 26–4–2 Nonito Donaire UD 12 7 Jul 2012 Home Depot Center, Carson, California, U.S. Lost IBF super bantamweight title;
For WBO super bantamweight title
31 Win 26–3–2 Takalani Ndlovu SD 12 24 Mar 2012 Carnival City Casino, Brakpan, South Africa Won IBF super bantamweight title
30 Win 25–3–2 Oscar Chauke SD 12 11 Jun 2011 Carnival City, Brakpan, South Africa
29 Win 24–3–2 Siviwe Hasheni TKO 2(8) 30 Oct 2010 Mafikeng University Hall, Mafikeng, South Africa
28 Loss 23–3–2 Takalani Ndlovu SD 12 1 Sep 2010 Carnival City, Brakpan, South Africa
27 Win 23–2–2 Rashid Ally KO 4 (6) 20 Nov 2009 Wembley Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa
26 Loss 22–2–2 Celestino Caballero SD 12 30 Apr 2009 Arena Roberto Duran, Panama City, Panama For WBA (Super) and IBF super bantamweight title
25 Win 22–1–2 Julio Zarate UD 12 29 Aug 2008 Carousel Hotel & Casino, Temba, South Africa
24 Win 21–1–2 Yoshinori Miyata TKO 8(12) 22 Feb 2008 Carousel Hotel & Casino, Temba, South Africa Retained WBC International featherweight title
23 Win 20–1–2 Themba Tshicila RTD 11 (12), 3:00 29 Jun 2007 Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa Retained WBC International featherweight title
22 Win 19–1–2 Mkhuseli Kondile KO 2(10) 8 Dec 2006 Nasrec Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa
21 Win 18–1–2 Aaron Melgarejo UD 12 30 Jun 2006 Nasrec Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa Retained WBC International featherweight title
20 Win 17–1–2 Osumanu Akaba UD 12 30 Sep 2005 Graceland Hotel Casino, Secunda, South Africa Won WBC International featherweight title
19 Win 16–1–2 Oscar Chauke PTS 6 15 Apr 2005 Sunnypark Shopping Centre, Pretoria, South Africa
18 Draw 15–1–2 Malcolm Klassen PTS 6 28 Sep 2004 Carousel Hotel & Casino, Temba, South Africa
17 Win 15–1–1 Elias Skhosana PTS 6 23 Jul 2004 Carousel Hotel & Casino, Temba, South Africa
16 Win 14–1–1 Sonwabo Matayi PTS 6 24 Feb 2004 Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, South Africa
15 Loss 13–1–1 Thomas Mashaba TKO 6(12) 30 Sep 2003 Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, South Africa For vacant South African super bantamweight title
14 Win 13–0–1 Oupa Lubisi TKO 3 (12) 31 May 2003 Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, South Africa
13 Win 12–0–1 Bonani Hlwatika UD 12 15 Feb 2003 Meropa Sun Casino, Polokwane, South Africa Won IBO Inter-Continental super bantamweight title
12 Win 11–0–1 Petros Motsoahole KO 1 (6) 22 Nov 2002 Portuguese Hall, Johannesburg, South Africa
11 Win 10–0–1 Martin Mnyandu PTS 6 5 Oct 2002 Wembley Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa
10 Draw 9–0–1 Bonani Hlwatika PTS 6 27 Aug 2002 Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, South Africa
9 Win 9–0 Wladimir Borov PTS 6 15 May 2002 Carnival City, Brakpan, South Africa
8 Win 8–0 Ebenezer Tumane TKO 3 (6) 27 Mar 2002 Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, South Africa
7 Win 7–0 Molefe Benzane TKO 4 (8) 6 Feb 2002 Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, South Africa
6 Win 6–0 Koos Sibiya KO 2 (6) 24 Oct 2001 Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, South Africa
5 Win 5–0 Dumisani Zulu TKO 1 (6) 19 Sep 2001 Ubuntu Kraal Resort, Soweto, South Africa
4 Win 4–0 Takatso Hlahane PTS 4 22 Aug 2001 Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, South Africa
3 Win 3–0 Tshumbedzo Tshishonge KO 3 (4) 2 Jun 2001 Carnival City, Brakpan, South Africa
2 Win 2–0 Goodman Mavuso TKO 2 (4) 9 May 2001 Carnival City, Brakpan, South Africa
1 Win 1–0 Tally Disoloane KO 3 (4) 17 Feb 2001 Carnival City, Brakpan, South Africa

References

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  1. ^ a b "Jeffrey Mathebula Biography and Olympic Results". Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 11 November 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d Anson Wainwright (24 May 2011). "Q & A with Jeffrey "The Mongoose" Mathebula". 15rounds.com. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
  3. ^ "Donaire & Rios Headline July 7th Card". Top Rank. 1 June 2012. Archived from the original on 4 June 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
  4. ^ a b Dan Rafael (1 September 2008). "Valuev gets past Ruiz; Calderon outfoxes Cazares for technical decision". ESPN. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  5. ^ "Easy for Klassen and Fana". SuperSport. 28 August 2008. Retrieved 31 May 2012.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ Robert Coster (1 May 2009). "Caballero retains title!". Fightnews.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
  7. ^ SAPA (25 March 2012). "Mathebula dethrones Ndlovu". The Post. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  8. ^ Ramatsiyi Moholoa (22 March 2012). "SABC throws boxing a lifeline". The Sowetan. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
  9. ^ Maloney L. Samaco (7 July 2012). "Who is Jeffrey Mathebula?". PhilBoxing.com. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  10. ^ Dan Rafael (25 July 2012). "Jeffrey Mathebula has jaw surgery". ESPN. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
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Preceded by IBF Junior Featherweight Champion
24 March 2012 – 7 July 2012
Succeeded by