Jeffrey Mathebula


Jeffrey Mathebula is a South African professional boxer who competed from 2001 to 2013. He held the IBF junior featherweight title in 2012.

Amateur career

Mathebula competed for his native country at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney in the Men's Featherweight division, where he defeated Noureddine Madjhoud in the first round and lost to Bekzat Sattarkhanov in the second round. He finished his amateur career with a record of 101–4.

Professional career

Mathebula made his professional debut on 17 February 2001, and has been managed and trained by Nick Durandt and promoted by Branco Sports Promotions. He fought to a draw with Malcolm Klassen in a six-round bout in Temba, North West in September 2004.
Mathebula defeated Julio Zarate via a unanimous decision with the scores of 117–109 twice and 118–109 in an IBF super bantamweight title eliminator in Temba on 29 August 2008, after knocking him down twice in the tenth-round. He was supposed to challenge the then IBF super bantamweight champion Steve Molitor, but Molitor lost to Celestino Caballero. Hence, Mathebula fought against Caballero for the WBA Super World and IBF World super bantamweight title. However, he lost his first world title shot against Caballero via a split decision at the Roberto Duran Arena in Panama on 30 April 2009.
After losing to Takalani Ndlovu via a split decision in an IBF junior featherweight title eliminator in Brakpan, Gauteng in September 2010, Mathebula defeated Ndlovu via a split decision in their rematch in Brakpan to be crowned the IBF junior featherweight champion. It was the SABC-televised first boxing event after one year interruption.

Mathebula v. Donaire

In one of the more defining and memorable fights, Mathebula fought the hard-hitting, WBO Super Bantamweight Champion Nonito Donaire. Donaire is rated by The Ring as the number five pound-for-pound boxer in the world. It was a unification fight for IBF and WBO Super Bantamweight belts. The bout was Live on HBO Boxing After Dark on 7 July 2012 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, California. Donaire defeated Methebula by unanimous decision. Donaire knocked Mathebula down in round four, breaking his jaw in two places.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
34LossKiko MartínezKO9, 2:0521 Dec 2013Pabellón Esperanza Lag, Elche, SpainFor IBF super bantamweight title
33Win27–4–2Takalani NdlovuUD1223 Mar 2013Carnival City Casino, Brakpan, South Africa
32Loss26–4–2Nonito DonaireUD127 Jul 2012Home Depot Center, Carson, California, U.S.Lost IBF super bantamweight title;
For WBO super bantamweight title
31Win26–3–2Takalani NdlovuSD1224 Mar 2012Carnival City Casino, Brakpan, South AfricaWon IBF super bantamweight title
30Win25–3–2Oscar ChaukeSD1211 Jun 2011Carnival City, Brakpan, South Africa
29Win24–3–2Siviwe HasheniTKO230 Oct 2010Mafikeng University Hall, Mafikeng, South Africa
28Loss23–3–2Takalani NdlovuSD121 Sep 2010Carnival City, Brakpan, South Africa
27Win23–2–2Rashid AllyKO4 20 Nov 2009Wembley Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa
26Loss22–2–2Celestino CaballeroSD1230 Apr 2009Arena Roberto Duran, Panama City, PanamaFor WBA world champions#Super bantamweight|WBA ] and IBF super bantamweight title
25Win22–1–2Julio ZarateUD1229 Aug 2008Carousel Hotel & Casino, Temba, South Africa
24Win21–1–2Yoshinori MiyataTKO822 Feb 2008Carousel Hotel & Casino, Temba, South AfricaRetained WBC International featherweight title
23Win20–1–2Themba TshicilaRTD11, 3:0029 Jun 2007Orient Theatre, East London, South AfricaRetained WBC International featherweight title
22Win19–1–2Mkhuseli KondileKO28 Dec 2006Nasrec Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa
21Win18–1–2Aaron MelgarejoUD1230 Jun 2006Nasrec Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South AfricaRetained WBC International featherweight title
20Win17–1–2Osumanu AkabaUD1230 Sep 2005Graceland Hotel Casino, Secunda, South AfricaWon WBC International featherweight title
19Win16–1–2Oscar ChaukePTS615 Apr 2005Sunnypark Shopping Centre, Pretoria, South Africa
18Draw15–1–2Malcolm KlassenPTS628 Sep 2004Carousel Hotel & Casino, Temba, South Africa
17Win15–1–1Elias SkhosanaPTS623 Jul 2004Carousel Hotel & Casino, Temba, South Africa
16Win14–1–1Sonwabo MatayiPTS624 Feb 2004Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, South Africa
15Loss13–1–1Thomas MashabaTKO630 Sep 2003Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, South AfricaFor vacant South African super bantamweight title
14Win13–0–1Oupa LubisiTKO3 31 May 2003Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, South Africa
13Win12–0–1Bonani HlwatikaUD1215 Feb 2003 Meropa Sun Casino, Polokwane, South AfricaWon IBO Inter-Continental super bantamweight title
12Win11–0–1Petros MotsoaholeKO1 22 Nov 2002Portuguese Hall, Johannesburg, South Africa
11Win10–0–1Martin MnyanduPTS65 Oct 2002 Wembley Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa
10Draw9–0–1Bonani HlwatikaPTS627 Aug 2002 Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, South Africa
9Win9–0Wladimir BorovPTS615 May 2002 Carnival City, Brakpan, South Africa
8Win8–0Ebenezer TumaneTKO3 27 Mar 2002 Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, South Africa
7Win7–0Molefe BenzaneTKO4 6 Feb 2002 Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, South Africa
6Win6–0Koos SibiyaKO2 24 Oct 2001 Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, South Africa
5Win5–0Dumisani ZuluTKO1 19 Sep 2001 Ubuntu Kraal Resort, Soweto, South Africa
4Win4–0Takatso HlahanePTS422 Aug 2001 Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, South Africa
3Win3–0Tshumbedzo TshishongeKO3 2 Jun 2001 Carnival City, Brakpan, South Africa
2Win2–0Goodman MavusoTKO2 9 May 2001 Carnival City, Brakpan, South Africa
1Win1–0Tally DisoloaneKO3 17 Feb 2001Carnival City, Brakpan, South Africa