Moruti Mthalane Stops Masahiro Sakamoto; Retains belt
Posted: 31 Dec 2018, 06:20
Wynn Palace Cotai, Macao - IBF flyweight world champion Moruti Mthalane (37-2, 25 KOs) stopped tough challenger Masahiro Sakamoto (13-2, 9 KOs) in ten rounds of action.
Coming in, Sakamoto had won five fights in a row by knockout - and two of them came in 2018. He lost a twelve round majority decision to Sho Kimura in a WBO regional title fight in November of 2016.
Mthalane came in with a very impressive streak of wins - which began following a TKO defeat at the hands of Nonito Donaire in November of 2008. Since that loss, he's been riding high. He captured the IBF title with a decision over Julio Cesar Miranda in 2009 and he's held the title for the last ten years - fighting off top challengers such as Zolani Tete, Johnreil Casimero and earlier this year Muhammad Waseem, who had Mthalane down in round eleven.
Coming in, Sakamoto had won five fights in a row by knockout - and two of them came in 2018. He lost a twelve round majority decision to Sho Kimura in a WBO regional title fight in November of 2016.
Mthalane came in with a very impressive streak of wins - which began following a TKO defeat at the hands of Nonito Donaire in November of 2008. Since that loss, he's been riding high. He captured the IBF title with a decision over Julio Cesar Miranda in 2009 and he's held the title for the last ten years - fighting off top challengers such as Zolani Tete, Johnreil Casimero and earlier this year Muhammad Waseem, who had Mthalane down in round eleven.