The southern most nation in the continent of Africa is best known within boxing for producing the likes of world champions; Zolani Tete, Hekkie Budler and IBO cruiserweight champion Kevin Lerena. However, South Africa is a slew of high level talent, despite it not being the most fashionable of nations when it comes to boxing. Among the talent pool is an exciting super bantamweight; Ludumo “9mm” Lamati (14-0-1) ranked at number 8 by the IBF and WBC.
“(Zolani) Tete is my neighbour man, so I trained with those guys growing up. When he was preparing for Paul Butler, I was his main sparring partner. I have been the main sparring partner for a lot of the South African World champions including Moruti Mthalane and Tete because they were my neighbours and I was in the camp with them. They were like big brothers to me.”
After 15 fights all in his homeland, Lamati built a decent CV picking up regional and national titles along this path. Having recently moved to Bracknell, England to link up with compatriot Luther Clay and trainer Keith Marner, Lamati spoke about his journey from Eastern Cape to England’s royal county.“I was fighting for ABU and African titles, then I was fighting a very tough guy to get myself in the ratings. He was ranked by the WBA and number eight by the IBF. It all happened quite quickly, after just a few fights I fought for the ABU title then went onto fight for the South African title. After just twelve fights I found myself fighting against the very experienced Luis Melendez for the IBF Inter-Continental title. Melendez had fought for a World title and won many belts, so it was a big challenge for me at an early stage of my career.”
“I had to defend my title against Alexis Boureima Kabore. I fought him after he fought Rey Vargas and I beat him nice and cleanly. It was after those fights my rating really started to pick up.”
“Then I got a call from Al Siesta, he has a friend in South Africa and they were asking me if I could fight at bantamweight, but I can’t get down to bantamweight. So he asked me what weight I want to fight at and I explained I’m a super bantamweight and then I signed with Siesta Boxing”
Many young men struggle with a change of environment, leaving friends and family behind to begin a new life and drastically alter their own journey within their chosen craft. However, Lamati seems to have flourished in his new surrounding with a very positive outlook on life and his new opportunity.
“I’m getting along very well man. I just found out Luther (Clay) is one of my cousins, I’m telling you man, it always happens like that! It’s really cool, nice family atmosphere, loving and very happy people. Also the trainer Keith I’m very happy with, he’s a very dedicated trainer. He’s a thinker! I just like it because I’m learning a lot of new things from him. It’s just a great experience! I can’t wait to fight.”
“It’s always been an ambition of mine to fight in the UK man. Look at how the boxing is growing here. It’s growing everyday man! They are making opportunities for their fighters all the time. The UK is taking over the boxing World! They have new ideas and everybody wants to be here and compete, the sport is growing crazy here you know.”
Where did this journey start for the young man named after a bullet? Little known to the vast majority of boxing fans, I was curious to find out how Lamati had engineered himself into a more than favourable position within two of the governing bodies and align himself with a manger who has generated two world champions.
“I started boxing when I was school. I used to fight a lot at school, so the guys took me to the gym to start boxing. My friend who was older than me thought I should start training which led to me beating a lot of kids in gym, then they gave me a scholarship at the age of thirteen.”
“I stayed there for eight years, then I turned professional after the 2012 Olympics. I tried to qualify for the 2012 games after I went to the World games in 2011. I had more than one hundred amateur fights with only ten loses. I went to the All African Games and World Games which is where I would pick up my losses, at an international level.”
“At the time in the amateur system we were using the computer scoring system. I used to find it difficult you know! You need be in a rush at times with computer based scoring. In the pro’s you take your time and read the fight to make sure you land clean effective punches compared to the amateurs where you can find yourself throwing loads of ineffective punches to get the points from the computer, that style didn’t suit me. At a professional level I feel comfortable, you think more and have to be more composed.
Like many fighters from from the lesser developed nations, Lamati has had to move to one of the more vibrant boxing nations. With such an abundance of good fighters and a couple of world champions, what were his views on the future of boxing in South Africa?
“There is a future for boxing in South Africa. There is some great talent, but there is not enough exposure in terms of big television. The country is busy man, they are putting on shows each and every weekend man. There is always a fight, like four fights a weekend.”
As I put the emphasis back on boxing in the UK in our conversation, who is in the firing line for Ludumo “9mm” Lamati?
“At this stage I will fight anyone. My aim was to fight maybe Gavin McDonnell, but I feel his ability is under my own. He’s a big name, but nothing special. I don’t feel like we are the same level, I’m hoping for a bigger level of opposition, but maybe my profile is not big enough yet to get those fights.”
“Isaac Dogboe is a great fighter who I could make a big statement against. It would be a shock to people! I need a fight like that to shock the people and grab their attention, that’s all I am about.”
It’s safe to say that Ludumo Lamati is at the beginning of the (hopefully) glory years of his careers. A lot is unpredictable for now as Lamati has never fought outside South Africa in his professional career. With a new trainer and surrounding it will be interesting to see how he handles the bigger spotlight in the coming months.
At a towering 5ft 8 inches tall, a reach of nearly 70 inches and bags of speed and ability, 9mm will be a handful for many if not all of the 122 pound division on paper. It will be a case of ‘can he adapt?’ to the bright lights of the mainstream. His confidence suggested he plans to do so!
“I just can’t wait to introduce myself to British fans! Any strong fighter in Europe, I am ready!”
Source: FightTalk.net