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Malcolm “Stone” Klassen (34) is proud to become the country’s oldest active boxer to hold four world titles in his career.
Klassen, who has defied the odds by not retiring from the sport since turning professional in 1999, won the International Boxing Organisation (IBO) super featherweight title last Friday, beating Australian Jack Asis by a unanimous points decision at Emerald Casino in Vereeniging.
Before then, the Toekomsrus-born fighter twice held the International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior lightweight title, which he won in 2006 and 2009, and the World Boxing Foundation (WBF) junior lightweight diadem, which he snatched in 2011.
Most of Stone’s fellow pugilists who held multiple world crowns during their career in the ring have called it quits (see graphic). Among them is Cassius “Hitman” Baloyi, whom Klassen beat for the IBF crown at the North West University Sports Complex in Mahikeng in 2009. Baloyi won six world championship belts before hanging up his gloves.
Klassen is therefore the last veteran still standing in the ring.
“I’m proud to have made a mark in boxing by being the oldest active fighter to win four world titles. My aim is to set another record by lifting three more crowns to make it seven,” said Klassen.
Klassen, who still packs a mean punch, reiterates the fact that he plans on fighting on by saying: “I will not call it a day any time soon.”
With a fight record of 33 wins, six defeats and two draws from 41 professional fights, Klassen believes his latest victory could not have been sweeter.
He believes he was given a raw deal when he lost to Australian Will Tomlinson by a unanimous points decision for the IBO super featherweight crown Down Under in 2013.
“I still maintain I won that fight fair and square, but a home town decision made it impossible for me to take the belt home,” Klassen said.
His title conquests also bring into focus five championships that were clinched by Zolani Marali, who has since retired. Marali won the IBO junior featherweight title by beating Argentinian Pastor Humberto Maurin on points at Carnival City, Brakpan, in July 2003. He outpointed Frenchman Jean-Marie Codet for the vacant WBF championship at Sibaya Casino in Durban in September 2006.
Marali went on to beat Argentine Miguel Dario Lombardo by a fifth-round technical knockout to win the WBF super featherweight diadem in Durban in November 2007.
Two years later, Marali outpointed Mexican Gamaliel Díaz for the IBO super featherweight belt at Emperors Palace.
Marali last captured a world belt by outpointing Ali Funeka to win the WBF super lightweight honours at Orient Theatre, East London, in 2012.
