Top junior featherweight, Lodumo Lamati, joins Golden Gloves, heading towards IBO world title.

Lodumo “9mm” Lamati, the 16-0-1 with 10 knockouts junior featherweight from the Eastern Cape, has joined the Golden Gloves stable.
“I’m not really looking for more fighters, but I looked at this kid and he is number five in the WBC, he is ranked in the WBA. He is unbeaten and nobody has ever thought of doing anything with him, so we signed him. I have secured an IBO world title for him, the title is vacant, for the 1st of June,” explains promoter Rodney Berman.
“Is there any better move right now for my career at the age of 28 years? I need a world title,” replies Lamati when asked what prompted the move.
“The boy was suffering. He didn’t get any more fights and he is a good fighter. I thought, ‘Let me approach Rodney.’ Then he came back to me and we decided to grab this opportunity. He is one of the best boxers in the country and I believe he is going to be one of our world champions in the future,” adds trainer, former SA bantamweight champion, Phumzile Matyhila.
Born and bred in Mdantsane, later relocating to Port Elizabeth, Lamati got into boxing at the age of eight as he was always in trouble fighting at school. He does not remember how many amateur fights he had but they numbered over 300, his last one being an Olympic qualifier.
Lamati has mixed with a high level of opposition, wining the ABU belt in 2016 against future SA champion, Innocent Mantengu. He followed that up with a victory over Bongani Mahlangu the following year to become the South African champion and then moved on to the international stage, capturing the IBF Intercontinental title along the way.
He has also trained and fought in the UK. He rates the experience highly. “I went to the UK and had sparring partners with big names, like Burnett and Yafai.”
His last fight was in July 2019 when he outpointed tough Filipino, Richie Mepranum, over twelve rounds at the Orient Theatre.
The junior featherweight division has a storied history in South African, having played host to such legends as Welcome Ncita, Vuyani Bungu and Lehlohonolo Ledwaba.
Can Lodumo Lamati join them?
Only time will tell but Lamati is full of ambition and wants to go all the way. “This is a very good start for me. We are not just going to end with the IBO title. I have three fights lined up, a warm-up and then in June for the world title.”