Zolile Mbityi: South Africa’s Two-Division IBO Champion
South African boxer Zolile Mbityi won the vacant IBO flyweight title in Warsaw on 22 October 1999, defeating Dimitar Alipiev over 12 rounds. He later held an IBO super-flyweight title.
Zolile Mbityi’s IBO flyweight reign
Mbityi’s victory over Alipiev came by unanimous decision. It formed part of a notable day for South African boxing: Peter Malinga also won an IBO championship on 22 October 1999, in the welterweight division. South African History Online records both achievements together.
Mbityi defended his flyweight belt against Sandro Orlando Oviedo in London on 13 April 2000. He won on points over 12 rounds, extending the reign he had begun in Poland. His next title contest ended differently: Damaen Kelly defeated him by majority decision in Peterborough on 30 September 2000.
Success at super-flyweight
His later career included domestic success at super-flyweight. Mbityi defeated Simon Ramoni in September 2006 and recorded further South African title victories over Ramoni, Unathi Gqokoma and Mangaliso Dyantyi during 2007.
On 31 May 2008, he faced fellow South African Masibulele Makepula for the vacant IBO super-flyweight championship at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park. Mbityi won by split decision, adding a championship in a second weight division nearly nine years after his Warsaw victory.
The video above features an earlier 1995 contest against Fahlan Sakkreerin. It predates both IBO championship wins and belongs to the earlier international phase of Mbityi’s career.
South African History Online documents the 1999 title win, and BoxRec’s IBO title history lists the bout and later title reign. Sources: Dated career results; [1] [2] [3]
Sources
Tags
Boxing, Boxing History
