New Non-HW Boxers Rated

[CONN CHRIS]

WELE MAQOLO

Hometown - Cape Town, South Africa

24(12)-23-2

Excluding a 12 bout losing streak between 1991 and 1997, Maqolo has had a fairly successful pro career. He won the WBF belt with a decision over Pongsawang and earlier held the Cape Provincial jr Flyweight title. During that barren period, Maqolo fought mostly to decisions and did fight a close match with Lindi Memani. Given the work in the balance of his career, it may be possible to write this string of losses off as terribly bad luck.

[CONN CHRIS]

SURACHAI SAENGMORAKOT

Born - Nongbualumphu, Thailand

25(14)-6-0

Saengmorakot successfully campaigned as a Strawweight for nearly eight years before moving up to jr Flyweight at the tail end of his career. His first loss and only stoppage came at the hands of Ricardo Lopez in a WBC title fight that also represented the only occasion on which Surachai fought outside of Thailand. He fought for and won the Thai and WBU titles.

[CONN CHRIS]

ROLANDO TUYUGON

Born - Gingoog, Philippines

20(4)-22-2

Defensive minded Phillipine that has run hot and cold, suffering several three-plus bout losing streaks. Biggest win as a straw was a 12 round decision over Surachai Saengmorakot for the WBU Title. Despite his difficulties at the straw level, Tuyugon was able to step up and take the WBF Jr Flyweight belt with a decision win over Aswin Sithlakmuang.

[CONN CHRIS]

WELLINGTON VINCENTE

Born - Pernambuco, Brazil

15(8)-8-0

WELLINGTON VINCENTE
Born - Pernambuco, Brazil
15(8)-8-0
Vincente was a decent strawweight with some power. He compiled an 11(4)-2-0 record as a straw winning the WBO Latino Strawweight Title and losing to Ratanapol Sor Vorapin in a bid for the IBF crown. Unfortunately, he was not able to stay at the straw weight level and had to move up to the flyweight division. Although Wellington did claim the WBO Latino Flyweight belt, his record as a fly is 4(4)-6-0. The extra weight seems to have helped his power but hurt in other skill areas.

[CONN CHRIS]

CARLOS MARIO ELUAIZA

Hometown - Las Flores, Argentina

19(4)-7-0

Held the South American and Argentine Strawweight Belts. Carlos did not posess a particularly strong chin; he was stopped by ninth round KO and third round TKO by Luis Alberto Lazarte in his final two bouts.

[CONN CHRIS]

PAUL OULDEN

Born - Kliptown, South Africa

12(8)-4-0

Oulden held the South African Straw belt but was relatively untested in the division and dropped a bad stoppage bout in his third pro fight. His only name opponent was Paul Weir who beat Oulden on points in a jr Fly title fight. Lost his last three bouts when he moved up in weight.

[CONN CHRIS]

FAHSANG PONGSAWANG

Hometown - Roi-et, Thailand

18(8)-4-0

Pongsawang had some impressive wins as a strawweight, decisioning Ernesto Rubillar and Jerry Pahayahay. Fought Ronnie Magramo three times in a two month period with the WBF title on the line. Pongsawang won two decisions and dropped a tenth round KO to Magramo. This was his only stoppage at straw weight, his other stoppage came in his last two career fights that were at Jr Fly.

[CONN CHRIS]

CHIBA TENORIA

Hometown - Sendai, Japan

Born - Philippines

9(5)-8-2

Tenoria lost an OPBF title bout to Hi-Yong Choi and dropped a Japanese Title fight to Rocky Lin. He was knocked around pretty badly at weights above straw.

[CONN CHRIS]

JIM-HO KIM

Born - Korea

11(4)-6-0

Kim held the OPBF Straweight title and lost a decision to Chana Porpaoin for the WBA belt. Dropped four fights when he moved up to jr Flyweight including a decision to Juanito Rubillar.

[CONN CHRIS]

SUNG-WOO LEE

Born - South Korea

13(6)-2-2

Lee held the Korean and OPBF Strawweight titles. Fighting exclusively in Korea, Lee was not stopped in 17 pro fights.

[CONN CHRIS]

GENKI OHNAKA

Hometown - Tokuyama, Yamaguchi, Japan

13(6)-4-1

Held the OPBF Strawweight title which he lost to Rodel Mayol in his first defense. Fought once in 2004, TKO'd by Junichiro Kaneda in round 5 after being put on the canvas twice.

[CONN CHRIS]

TAMSANQA SOGCWE

Home - East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa

22(10)-7-1

Sogcwe was not stopped in 30 pro bouts although he was never tested away from South Africa. Held the South African Straw title, losing it to Paul Oulden. Earlier in his career, Sogcwe held the South African and Cape Provincial jr Flyweight belts. He bucked the general trend by moving DOWN to the strawweight division.

[CONN CHRIS]

JOSE FIGUEROA

Hometown - Tijuana, Mexico

5(4)-2-0

Figueroa seems to have a little power but he's only fought Mexican shoe shine boys thus far and two of them gave him a nice polishing. Even his Mexican Strawweight title win came over an 0-7 clubbie. He took the WBE (whatever that is) title against a fighter who was 1-2-0 at the time. A wispy paper champion if ever there was one.

[CONN CHRIS]

SIMPHIWE MFANISO

Born - South Africa

3(1)-3-0

South African club fighter that ran off three wins and got a national title shot with Paul Oulden. Not much to look at besides that loss.

[CONN CHRIS]

ZOLILE NGANTWENI

Born - South Africa

3(1)-7-2

Light-hitting straw that fought for and lost the South African title twice. TKo's to Paul Oulden and Tamsanqa Sogcwe.

[CONN CHRIS]

EDIN CECILIO TEJEDOR

Hometown - Panama City, Panama

5(4)-5-2

Went 5(4)-2-2 as a Straw including a loss for the Panamanian title. Then moved up to jr Fly and dropped three more bouts before calling it quits.

[CONN CHRIS]

NKOSINATHI JOYI

Born - South Africa

11(8)-0-0

Young, hard-hitting South African Strawweight Champion that has yet to be seriously tested. Has averaged two rounds per stoppage victory. An experienced, but mediocre Wele Maqolo took him to the bell in Joyi's last outing.

[CONN CHRIS]

YUICHI HOSONO

Hometown - Tokoyo, Japan

22(12)-4-1

Former Japanese Strawweight Champ. Unlike many at this weight level, Hosono did well stepping up in weight, going 6-2 as a jr Flyweight with his only losses in title fights with Myung-Woo Yuh and Saman Sorjaturong.

[CONN CHRIS]

MAKOTO KANO

Home - Japan

0-5-0

Japanese club fighter that lost a string of four round affairs around the Tokoyo area in the early eighties.

[CONN CHRIS]

SITHEMBELE KIBITI

Hometown - Cape Town, South Africa

15(11)-2-0

South African and All Africa Strawweight Champion. Stopped Steve Msimanga in the second round of a title fight. One of his two losses came at the hands of Bert Batawang when Kibiti stepped up to jr Fly for a chance at the WBA Pan African Belt.