Ludumo Lamati


Ludumo Lamati is a South African professional boxer. He held the IBO super bantamweight title from June 2021 to May 2022. As an amateur, he competed at the 2011 World Championships.
He was nicknamed 9mm after a semiautomatic pistol by his former trainer, Nick Durandt.

Amateur career

Lamati was involved in many fights as a schoolboy, which led a friend of his to bring him to a boxing gym to introduce him to the sport. He received a scholarship to train at the gym when he was 13. Lamati had over 100 amateur bouts, losing just ten of them. He competed at the 2011 World Championships, where he lost his first fight against Francisco Torrijos of Spain, as well as the 2011 All-Africa Games.

Professional career

Lamati made his professional debut on 10 April 2014, defeating Bongani Bhuti on points in Johannesburg. After compiling a 9–0–1 record, he outpointed Innocent Mantengu in December 2016 for the vacant African super bantamweight title. In his next fight, Lamati upset veteran Bongani Mahlangu for the South African super bantamweight title. He defeated former world title challenger Luis Meléndez three months later to capture the vacant IBF Inter-Continental super bantamweight title, and successfully defended it against Alexis Boureima Kabore that December. In July 2018 Lamati signed a promotional deal with Southampton-based Siesta Boxing Promotions. He only fought once in England during his stint there, however, beating late replacement Brayan Mairena on a SBP-promoted card in Bracknell on Saint Patrick's Day 2019. He made his return to South Africa on 28 July 2019, headlining a Rumble Africa Promotions event against Richie Mepranum for the vacant IBF Inter-Continental super bantamweight title. Lamati outboxed the southpaw veteran, forcing a corner retirement before the start of the 11th round to claim the IBF Inter-Continental belt for the second time.
Although he didn't fight in 2020, Lamati reached as high as number four in the WBC divisional rankings. He signed with South African promoter Rodney Berman of Golden Gloves Boxing in January 2021. On 19 June 2021, Lamati defeated José Martín Estrada García by majority decision in Kempton Park to claim the vacant IBO super bantamweight title, with the judge's scorecards reading 116–112, 115–113, 114–114.
Lamati faced Haidari Mchanjo on 22 May 2022, following a near year-long absence from the sport. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with two scorecards of 100–90 and one scorecard of 97–92. Lamati next faced Ken Jordan on 2 October 2022. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 98–93, 98–92 and 98–92. As he struggled to make the bantamweight limit against Jordan, Lamati moved up to super bantamweight for his next bout, against Mark Anthony Geraldo on 17 November 2022. He won the fight by a fourth-round knockout.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
23LossNick BallTKO12, 2:1527 May 2023SSE Arena, Belfast, Northern IrelandFor WBC Silver featherweight title
22Win21–0–1Mark Anthony GeraldoKO4, 2:0917 Nov 2022Durban Casino, Durban, South Africa
21Win20–0–1Ken JordanUD102 Oct 2022Booysens Boxing Club, Johannesburg, South Africa
20Win19–0–1Haidari MchanjoUD1022 May 2022Booysens Boxing Club, Johannesburg, South Africa
19Win18–0–1José Martín Estrada García1219 Jun 2021Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, South AfricaWon vacant IBO super bantamweight title
18Win17–0–1Said ChinoUD814 Mar 2021Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, South Africa
18Win16–0–1Richie Mepranum10, 3:0028 Jul 2019Orient Theatre, East London, South AfricaWon vacant IBF Inter-Continental super bantamweight title
16Win15–0–1Brayan MairenaPTS817 Mar 2019Leisure Centre, Bracknell, England
15Win14–0–1Said ChinoTKO6 30 Jun 2018Turfontein Race Course, Johannesburg, South Africa
14Win13–0–1Alexis Boureima KaboreUD128 Dec 2017Orient Theatre, East London, South AfricaRetained IBF Inter-Continental super bantamweight title
13Win12–0–1Luis Meléndez1228 Jul 2017International Convention Centre, East London, South AfricaWon vacant IBF Inter-Continental super bantamweight title
12Win11–0–1Bongani MahlanguPTS1230 Apr 2017Orient Theatre, East London, South AfricaWon South African super bantamweight title
11Win10–0–1Innocent MantenguPTS109 Dec 2016Mdantsane Indoor Centre, Mdantsane, South AfricaWon vacant African super bantamweight title
10Win9–0–1Lemogang MapitsiKO1 25 Sep 2016Mdantsane Indoor Centre, Mdantsane, South Africa
9Win8–0–1Luthando MbumbulwanaTKO2 23 Apr 2016Mdantsane Indoor Centre, Mdantsane, South Africa
8Win7–0–1Zola CharlieTKO2 16 Oct 2015Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa
7Draw6–0–1Cebo NgemaPTS630 Jul 2015Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, South Africa
6Win6–0Bulelani NamaTKO2 15 Dec 2014Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa
5Win5–0Smangaliso MadonselaTKO3 27 Nov 2014Presleys Restaurant, Boksburg, South Africa
4Win4–0Noah NthaiTKO4 26 Oct 2014International Convention Centre, Durban, South Africa
3Win3–0Mzwandile Nontyawe3 21 Aug 2014Johannesburg, South Africa
2Win2–0Ephraim Chauke1 26 Jun 2014Presleys Restaurant, Boksburg, South Africa
1Win1–0Bongani Bhuti410 Apr 2014Gold Reef Entertainment Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa