Thulani Mbenge defeats Michael McKinson by decision

TULANI MBENGE breathed new life into his career with a hard-earned points win over Michael McKinson at the Copper Box.

The South African has boxed only once since he was beaten by Souleymane Cissokho in December 2022 but, at 33, he secured perhaps the best win of his career to date here.

Judges Bob Williams and Giulio Piras had him a 116-112 winner while Mikael Hook had it wider at 117-111 and those scores told the story of a fight where he outworked McKinson for large spells.

McKinson looked like he might be on the verge of an unlikely early knockout when he made Mbenge’s legs wobble midway through the first with a pair of left hooks from his southpaw stance. But the visitor kept his hands up and navigated his way through the round.

Mbenge steadily worked his way back into the fight through the second and third round and was landing far more regularly to hand and body. But McKinson was always looking to counter with a sharp back hand in what was opening up into an entertaining showdown.

But the pattern was clear, with Mbenge walking McKinson down in an attempt to close the distance and hurt the man from Portsmouth. McKinson, however, was equal to it although he was not picking up rounds.

Both men turned up the heat in an open eighth, landing with clean shots and throwing caution to the wind. And it continued into the ninth with Mbenge talking to his opponent as he stalked him around the ring and he finished the round with a big left hook right on the bell.

A chopping right hand from Mbenge also got his attention early in the 11th but McKinson took it well. However, a big right hand and another left hook also found the target in what was a good round for Mbenge right when it mattered.

He continued to pour forward in the 12th and again drilled home a left hook in centre ring, with McKinson seemingly unable to keep the visitor off him. The pair both opened up in a frantic 30 seconds but neither could find a finish.

Instead it was left to the judges to deliver their unanimous verdict, with Mbenge picking up the vacant IBO title as a result of the win.