Mabuza Too Much For Sonsona

By Chris Thomas: Hard-hitting International Boxing Organization bantamweight champion Silence Mabuza (21-2, 17 KOs) turned back young 19 year-old challenger Eden Sonsona (14-3, 3 KOs), stopping him in the 8th round on Saturday night to successfully defend his title at the Emperors Palace Casino, in Kempton Park, Gauteng, South Africa. Mabuza, 30, had problems with the speedy Sonsona’s fast shots in the early going, finding it hard to match him punch for punch. However, as the rounds progressed, Mabuza found it easier to land how power shots more often. In the 5th round, Mabuza dropped Sonsona with a big right hand to the body.

This time, Sonsona didn’t get up, and the referee Jorge Alonso stopped the bout at 0:10 of the 8th round. It was an excellent win for the 30 year-old Mabuza, who only two fights ago was stopped in the 9th round by Rafael Marquez in an IBF title fight in August 2006. This win was especially significant for Mabuza, ranked #3 in the International Boxing Federation bantamweight division, for it moves him forward for a potential championship bout with IBF bantamweight champion Joseph Agbeko.