By Ron Jackson
One of South Africa’s most talented fighters, Lehlohonolo Ledwaba, who won a South Africa title and world titles at three different weights, passed away from the Covid 19 virus on his way to hospital on Friday.
Ledwaba would have celebrated his fiftieth birthday on July 27.
The stylish Ledwaba made his pro debut on 31 October 1990 at Eldorado Park and scored a fourth-round technical knockout over Ephraim Madi.
He remained unbeaten in his next six fights before winning the Transvaal junior featherweight title with a fourth-round knockout against Vusi Khoza.
In 1993, winning against Derek Vijam (ko 1), Moses Pietersen (tko 3) and in a return against Khoza (tko 4) he was upset by Joseph Ramaswe who stopped him in the second round, before finishing the year with a win over Elias Sebesho.
Winning his next two fights in 1993 Ledwaba was in outstanding form in January 1995 when he scored an eighth-round technical knockout win over Ncedile Siko for the vacant South African junior featherweight title.
After making a successful defense of the South African title he claimed his first world title on 17 November 1996 with a 12-round points victory over Cruz Carbajal for the vacant WBU bantamweight belt.
After making a successful defense of the WBU belt against Gian Maria Petriccioli he subsequently relinquished it due to weight problems, but then made three successful defenses of the SA junior featherweight title.
In possibly one of his best performances on 29 May 1999 at the Carousel gambling resort in Hammanskraal, he won the vacant IBF junior featherweight belt with a 12 round unanimous points decision over John Michael Johnson from the USA.
This outstanding craftsman made five successful defenses of the belt before losing it on a sixth-round stoppage to one of modern ring greats Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas.
After this setback, the spark was gone and even though he beat one of South Africa’s greatest fighters Vuyani Bungu for the vacant WBU featherweight belt he was not the same fighter.
It was downhill, losing four of his next six fights which included a points loss to Cassius Baloyi for The IBO junior lightweight weight belt.
In his last fight on 24 November 2006 in Mmabatho he lost the WBA Pan African junior lightweight title on ninth round technical knockout against Maxwell Awuku.
Lehlo as he was known finished with a record of 36 wins, 6 losses and 1 draw, with 23 of his wins coming inside the distance.
Having seen many of his fights and spoken to him on several occasions after he had retired from the ring, I will always remember this great fighter and fine human being who died too soon.
Wow, that’s very sad news.
RIP champ.
Sad news, indeed.
I remembered when he fought Manny, and it was the first time I saw Manny fight. During the time, I informed my friends that Manny is a HOF type fighter and everybody laughed. To this day, I remind my friends about how they talked trash to me about Manny…I now get the last laugh because Manny will make the HOF as one of the greatest fighters.
RIP, Ledwaba. He was a champion and a solid fighter.
RIP. Remember he came in as pretty substantial favorite against Pacquiao who had been fighting about flyweight. Think it was an HBO undercard fight
Ledwaba was a consistent figure in boxing in the 90’s and early 2000’s. I think he fought Pacquiao on the Bernard Hopkins-Tito Trinidad undercard. RIP Brave Warrior
Think the Pacquiao fight was in Vegas and Hopkins Trinidad in NY
They fought in vegas on the de la hoya vs javier castellejo undercard
Yep, Castillejo – De la Hoya
June 23, 2001
Correct you both are- I could have sworn I saw that fight on the Hopkins- Trinidad undercard. Sad news nonetheless. I have the utmost respect for a guy who fought his way out of the Soweto Township to become a World Champion. I think it’s gotten better now, but Soweto life was poverty on a whole different level.
We also lost Sergio Palma yesterday a bantamweight champion for a few years in the early 80s. Also Covid related
there are many cures. if he was vaxed it killed him
I agree. R.I.P Champ.
Kris Pissedofferson: The townships in South Africa are, comparing then to now, unfortunately just as bad and have increased in size and numbers. SA in general has continued going backwards, but there are some highlights of hope that could turn things around.
Undercard fight much better than the main on that card. HBO did like to showcase there stars in fights with absolutely zero risk.
I went to that fight. He was such a huge favorite that the sportsbooks in vegas didnt have a line for that fight
That’s terrible. RIP Champ!
I remember thinking no way this kid Manny will beat Lehlo. He was very decent fighter decent skills RIP… champ
Ok rumpietard
Tragic News! Damn this pandemic!
RIP African HOF sportsman.
Sad news. RIP champ, Ledwaba. alias, Hands of Stone.
Rip champ but no way he died from fake covid they just put that as everyone’s cause of death now
Probably the vaccine.
Akhenten Amarna, dude stop with that garbage.
ivermectin, hydroxy,vit-d..3 cures..
RIP champ.
I remember the Pac fight. Pac had gotten ko’d to lose his first title and it looked like he was a fluke. Ledwaba was racking up defenses. I was sure Ledwaba would win. I was shocked when Pac demolished him. Ledwaba was a fantastic boxer. Unfortunately when it was his turn in the spotlight he crossed paths with one of the all time greats -though no one knew it yet- and for Ledwaba his time had passed.
Gone but not forgotten. One of S.A.’s best. RIP champ.
Such a sad news. He was a great fighter.
nonsense. Hydroxy and zinc..ivermectin..vit-D…all cures.
Most who supposedly die from the C-virus are actually succumbing to the pneumonia that often follows it (as is true for most flu deaths). I question that he died of the actual One-Niner.
rip warrior