Ludumo Lamati’s 9MM shots ran out in the last two rounds and he had to survive a barrage of punches by ducking and holding Garcia until the final bell rang.
Having done the work in earlier rounds, all Ludumo had to do to win the vacant IBO junior featherweight belt was stay on his feet.
All three judges agreed the South African had scored more points than the Mexican who seemed to grow in stature as the fight wore on.
Bleeding from the nose Ludmo, nicknamed “9MM” after a handgun, was a shadow of the boxer he was in earlier rounds.
In the earlier rounds – South Africa’s best-kept boxing secret – put up a smooth display of combination punches. Lamati was superior with his punches to the head and then the body.
The handful of people who braved the chilly night marveled at Lamati’s skills. They must have wondered where he had been all this time.
The boxer from Mdatsane, Eastern Cape, had Garcia aka Jose Martin Estrada confused with his speed. Lamati warmed Emperors Palace with his calculated combinations that stung the Mexican.
Even though there were no fans, the scantily dressed ring girls still came out between rounds to display the boards announcing the round.
The only solace was that they covered what matter most – their mouths and noses with masks.
However, the fight swung away from Lamati in the ninth round. Garcia, who didn’t sit between rounds was going for broke but Lamati survived the onslaught.
After the fight Lamati – the new IBO junior featherweight world champion – revealed that he fought the last two rounds blind. He said he couldn’t see after a headbutt.
