Tshifhiwa Munyai

Tshifhiwa Munyai (born 8 May 1985) is a South African professional boxer who challenged for the WBA super-bantamweight title in 2014. He also held the Commonwealth bantamweight title from 2006 to 2007, and the IBO super-bantamweight title in 2011.

Tshifhiwa Munyai
Statistics
Nickname(s)Atomic Spider
Weight(s)Featherweight
NationalitySouth African
Born8 May 1985 (1985-05-08) (age 35)
South Africa
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights39
Wins32
Wins by KO18
Losses6
Draws1

Professional career

Early career

Munyai spent the early part of his career boxing in the townships of his native country South Africa. He had compiled a record of 10-0-1 by the time he left the country to box abroad for the first time as a professional.[1]

His big opportunity came when he was given the opportunity in June 2006 to fight England's Martin Power for the vacant Commonwealth bantamweight title. Power came into the contest with an undefeated record of 19-0 and was the holder of the British bantamweight title at the time. Munyai stunned the boxing world by beating Power with a 9th-round TKO in London's York Hall.[2]

Commonwealth champion

Following his victory Munyai returned to the York Hall to defend against former Commonwealth Flyweight champion Lee Haskins. He won the contest in the 6th round when referee Micky Vann stepped in stop the contest after Haskins came off worst after being caught with a number of body shots.[3] In January 2007 Munyai once again met Martin Power this time at the Goresbrook Leisure Center in Dagenham. This time the victory was emphatic with Munyai winning four one sided rounds before Power was pulled by his corner in the fourth. Power claimed in an interview with the BBC that an elbow injury had hampered his performance saying "I picked up an elbow injury after the second round and it was restricting me. It was hard enough to fight him with two hands, but with just one I was struggling. I wanted to carry on but my corner wouldn't let me." A confident Munyai said simply "I knew from the first fight that I could beat him and, if anything, this fight was even easier for me."[4]

WBA Inter-Continental champion

Following his victories Munyai fought twice more in the UK and moved up to featherweight with 8 round wins over Harry Ramogoadi and Abdul Tebazalwa before returning to South Africa as a bantamweight. In February 2008 he challenged the Argentinian Julio David Roque Ler for the WBA Inter-continental bantamweight title in Bloemfontein and came out a unanimous points winner.[5] In July 2008 Munyai returned to the UK and to the Goresbrook Leisure Centre the scene of his second victory over Power. Returning featherweight he suffered his first defeat as a professional losing to the Ghanaian boxer Osumana Akaba over 8 rounds. After the fight Akaba responded to comments that he had just been there to make up the numbers saying “I know that people didn't rate my record and thought they were going to use me as a stepping stone, just as a journeyman. I knew going into the fight that he'd beaten a lot of good people, but they were afraid of him.”[6]

Munyai returned to action back in South Africa in November 2008 and defeated fellow countryman Bongani Mahangu in a return to bantamweight. The fight was the first defence of Munyai's WBA intercontinental title and ended with a split decision win over Maglangu who at the time was also the WBA Pan African bantamweight title holder.[7] Munyai next boxed in July 2009 and in a non-title fight defeated Galley Cudjoe with a first round stoppage in Johannesburg.[8]

He made the second defence of his intercontinental title on 27 February 2010 defeating the Philippines Daniel Ferreras at the Kempton Park in Gauteng over 12 rounds.[9] On 28 July 2010 he stopped Ghanain Prosper Ankrah in the 3rd round of another non-title fight at the Emperor's Palace and then just a week later on 8 August 2010 found himself in the frame for a trip to Mexico City and a shot at the vacant WBC Silver bantamweight against Mexico's Cristian Esquivel.[10] Despite the shot at the title coming at short notice Munyai traveled to Mexico and went the full 12 round distance although ended up losing for the second time in his career.

IBO super-bantamweight champion

On 26 March 2011 Munyai fought Philippine boxer Danilo Pena at the Kempton Park winning on all the judges scorecards to win the vacant IBO super bantamweight championship.[11]

Professional boxing record
Professional record summary
35 fights 28 wins 6 losses
By knockout 16 3
By decision 12 3
Draws 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
35 Loss 28–6–1 Rofhiwa Maemu TKO 7 (10) Dec 29, 2017 2Ten Hotel, Thohoyandou, South Africa
34 Loss 28–5–1 Azinga Fuzile TKO 3 (10), 2:41 Oct 21, 2017 Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, South Africa
33 Win 28–4–1 Samuel Kapapu TKO 3 (8) Apr 28, 2017 Wembley Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa
32 Win 27–4–1 Oscar Chauke KO 10 (12), 1:46 Sep 12, 2015 Evoque Nightclub, Preston, England
31 Win 26–4–1 Reynaldo Cajina TKO 9 (10) Jun 13, 2015 Evoque Nightclub, Preston, England
30 Win 25–4–1 Giorgi Gachechiladze KO 4 (6), 2:36 Apr 18, 2015 Sports Centre, Oldham, England
29 Loss 24–4–1 Paulus Ambunda SD 12 Dec 20, 2014 Helao Nafidi, Oshikango, Namibia
28 Loss 24–3–1 Scott Quigg TKO 2 (12), 1:56 Apr 19, 2014 Manchester Arena, Manchester, England For WBA super-bantamweight title
27 Win 24–2–1 Phumzile Matyhila TKO 8 (10) Sep 21, 2013 Indoor Centre, Mdantsane, South Africa
26 Win 23–2–1 Emmanuel Quartey TKO 11 (12), 2:50 Jun 1, 2013 Kati Kati Hall, Cathcart, South Africa Retained WBA Pan African bantamweight title
25 Win 22–2–1 Oscar Chauke UD 12 Dec 8, 2012 Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa Won vacant WBA Pan African bantamweight title
24 Win 21–2–1 Danilo Pena UD 12 Mar 26, 2011 Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, South Africa Won vacant IBO super-bantamweight title
23 Loss 20–2–1 Christian Esquivel UD 12 Aug 7, 2010 Arena México, Mexico City, Mexico For vacant WBC Silver bantamweight title
22 Win 20–1–1 Prosper Ankrah KO 3 (10), 1:44 Jul 28, 2010 Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, South Africa
21 Win 19–1–1 Daniel Ferreras UD 12 Feb 27, 2010 Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, South Africa Retained WBA Inter-Continental bantamweight title
20 Win 18–1–1 Galley Cudjoe TKO 1 (10), 2:28 Jul 31, 2009 Nasrec Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa
19 Win 17–1–1 Bongani Mahlangu SD 12 Nov 14, 2008 Ride Hall, Parys, South Africa Retained WBA Inter-Continental bantamweight title
18 Loss 16–1–1 Osumanu Akaba PTS 8 Jul 18, 2008 Goresbrook Leisure Centre, Dagenham, England
17 Win 16–0–1 Julio David Roque Ler UD 12 Feb 23, 2008 Town Hall, Bloemfontein, South Africa Won vacant WBA Inter-Continental bantamweight title
16 Win 15–0–1 Abdul Tebazalwa PTS 8 Nov 30, 2007 Leisure Center, Newham, England
15 Win 14–0–1 Harry Ramogoadi PTS 8 Jun 15, 2007 National Sports Centre, Crystal Palace, England
14 Win 13–0–1 Martin Power RTD 4 (12), 3:00 Jan 26, 2007 Goresbrook Leisure Centre, Dagenham, England Retained Commonwealth bantamweight title
13 Win 12–0–1 Lee Haskins TKO 6 (12), 2:56 Oct 6, 2006 York Hall, London, England Retained Commonwealth bantamweight title
12 Win 11–0–1 Martin Power TKO 9 (12), 1:39 Jun 6, 2006 York Hall, London, England Won vacant Commonwealth bantamweight title
11 Win 10–0–1 Lungisa Dlamini UD 6 May 26, 2006 Nasrec Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa
10 Win 9–0–1 Nkosinathi Tshinavhe PTS 10 Feb 11, 2006 Multi-Purpose Centre, Makhado, South Africa
9 Win 8–0–1 Goodman Mavuso TKO 2 (6) Oct 7, 2005 Nasrec Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa
8 Win 7–0–1 Nkosana Vaaltein PTS 6 Jul 29, 2005 Nasrec Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa
7 Win 6–0–1 Clement Somers TKO 1 (6) Jul 3, 2005 Westgate Shopping Mall, Roodepoort, South Africa
6 Win 5–0–1 Kingsley Ndouvhada TKO 1 (6) May 27, 2005 Orlando Community Hall, Soweto, South Africa
5 Draw 4–0–1 Peter Ndou PTS 4 Feb 4, 2005 Graceland Hotel Casino, Secunda, South Africa
4 Win 4–0 Fikile Mlonyeni KO 3 (4) Jul 17, 2004 Highgate Shopping Mall, Johannesburg, South Africa
3 Win 3–0 Tladi Modibeli UD 4 Jun 16, 2004 Sports Centre, Cullinan, South Africa
2 Win 2–0 Tladi Modibeli UD 4 Feb 7, 2004 Carnival City Casino, Brakpan, South Africa
1 Win 1–0 Zukile Toko TKO 2 (4) Dec 6, 2003 Southern Suburbs Recreation Cent, Johannesburg, South Africa

Titles in boxing
  • Commonwealth Bantamweight title
  • WBA Inter-Continental Bantamweight title
  • WBA Pan African Bantamweight title

References
  1. "Boxrec | Tshifhiwa Munyai professional record". Archived from the original on 2012-10-07. Retrieved 2008-09-28.
  2. BBC Sport | Power stopped in Commonwealth bid
  3. BBC Sport | Marvellous Munyai crushes Haskins
  4. BBC Sport | Munyai halts Power for a second time
  5. "Britishboxing.net | Munyai vs Roque Ler". Archived from the original on 2008-12-03. Retrieved 2008-09-28.
  6. "Britishboxing.net | Accra's golden boy in London". Archived from the original on 2008-11-23. Retrieved 2008-09-28.
  7. "Boxrec | Bongani Mahangu record". Archived from the original on 2012-10-08. Retrieved 2008-11-28.
  8. "Supersport.co | Classy Fana stops Seroka in six - undercard report of Munyai vs. Cudjoe". Archived from the original on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2009-08-09.
  9. Sowetan | Munyai gets WBA title shot
  10. "Times Live | Barely rested Spider heads to Mexico". Archived from the original on 2010-08-10. Retrieved 2010-08-06.
  11. "Super sport.com | great night for SA boxers". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2011-04-02.
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