By Mark Vester

In a loss that could spell the end for Zahir Raheem (29-3, 17KOs) as a top contender, Ali Funeka (30-1, 25KOs) stopped him in the fourth-round of an IBF eliminator at the Jan Smuts Stadium in East London, South Africa.

Funeka used his quick hands and crisp right hands to drop Raheem twice in the first round and four times overall before knocking him him out cold in the fourth-round. Raheem was not able to hold off Funeka or avoid the right hands that seemed to find their mark often.

He now earns the right to challenge IBF lightweight champion Nate Campbell. Funeka has been undefeated since a decision loss to Mzonke Fana in 2002, which also saw Fana dropped in the first round.

Funeka has now stopped fourteen of his last sixteen opponents, including seven of those being clean knockout wins.

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