Marali vs Kim on September 12 in Kempton Park
In the main event scheduled for 12 rounds, Zolani “Untouchable” Marali, 20-2 with 13 knockouts, of Mdantsane, South Africa, will make his first defense of the IBO junior lightweight world title against “Sensational Kid” Ji-Hoon Kim, 16-5 with 13 knockouts, of Goyang City, South Korea.
The 32 year-old Marali, a five-foot, 11-inches tall lefthander, won the vacant IBO title in his last fight in April, 2009, with a 12 round unanimous decision against Gamaliel Diaz. He is also a former IBO junior featherweight champion and two-time South African junior featherweight champion.
Kim, just 22 years old, stands five-foot, nine-inches tall and has an exciting style in the ring. He has now won eight fights in a row, seven by knockout, since his last loss in July, 2006. A former Korean featherweight champion, he made an impressive U.S. debut in May, 2008, with a first-round TKO win against 1996 Olympian Koba Gogoladze in Las Vegas.
An exciting undercard will include:
12 Rounds, Light Heavyweights – WBO Africa Title
Isaac Chilembe, 13-1, 8 KOs, Blantyre, Malawi, vs.
Douglas Otieno, 19-3, 9 KOs, Nairobi, Kenya.
12 Rounds, Lightweights – IBO Africa Title
Grant Fourie, 10-0-1, 7 KOs, Johannesburg, South Africa, vs.
Jason Bedeman, 8-0-2, 6 KOs, Johannesburg, South Africa.
10 Rounds, Super Middleweights – IBO Youth Title
Thomas Oosthuizen, 7-0, 6 KOs, Johannesburg, South Africa, vs.
Cleber Alves, 5-1, 4 KOs, Curitiba, Brazil.
10 Rounds, Cruiserweights
Ruben Groenewald, 22-7-3, 9 KOs, Brakpan, South Africa, vs.
Ronnie Latigan, 9-7, 3 KOs, Johannesburg, South Africa.
4 Rounds, Junior Welterweights
Johnny Koen, 2-2, 2 KOs, Johannesburg, South Africa, vs.
Herbert Nkabiti, 1-0, 1 KO, Kanye, Botswana.
All bouts subject to change without notice.
Ticket prices: R175 reserved; R100 unreserved.
Doors open: 7:00 P.M.
