Ricardo Malajika (born 28 August 1998) is a South African professional boxer who has held the World Boxing Council (WBC) super-flyweight title since September 2026 and the International Boxing Organization (IBO) super-flyweight title since September 2023. He previously held the IBO flyweight title in 2025.
Career Malajika made his professional debut at Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, South Africa, on 21 October 2018, knocking out Nkululeko Mnisi in the first of their scheduled four-round contest.
At the same venue, he claimed the vacant IBO super-flyweight title with a unanimous decision win over Kevin Luis Munoz on 2 September 2023.
Malajika successfully defended his title with wins over Marcel Braithwaite via unanimous decision on 5 April 2024, and Yanga Sigqibo by 11th round stoppage on 23 August 2024.
Moving down a weight division and again at Emperors Palace, he challenged IBO flyweight champion Jackson Chauke on 1 March 2025. Malajika became a two-weight title holder when he stopped his opponent in the second round.
Once more at Emperors Palace, he defended his super-flyweight title for the third time against Jayson Mama on 9 August 2025. He knocked his opponent to the canvas five times before the fight was stopped in the fifth round.
Again at the same venue, Malajika retained his super-flyweight championship for the fourth time on 29 November 2025, defeating Vince Paras by unanimous decision.
Fighting outside of South Africa for the first time in his professional career, Malajika defeated the previously unbeaten Tomoya Tsuboi via split decision to win the vacant WBC super-flyweight title at Toyota Arena in Tokyo, Japan, on 27 September 2026. Two of the ringside judges scored the bout 116–112 and 115–113 respectively in his favour, while the third had it 115–113 for his opponent.
Personal life Malajika's younger brother Charlton is also a professional boxer.
Professional boxing record
ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes20Win18–2Tomoya TsuboiSD1227 Sep 202619Win17–2Vince ParasUD1229 Nov 202518Win16–2Jayson MamaTKO5 (12), 9 Aug 202517Win15–2Jackson ChaukeKO2 (12)1 Mar 202516Win14–2Yanga SigqiboKO11 (12)23 Aug 202415Win13–2Marcel BraithwaiteUD125 Apr 202414Win12–2Kevin Luis MuñozUD122 Sep 202313Win11–2Adrian LerasanTKO5 (10)18 Mar 202312Win10–2Sihle JelwanaTKO8 (8)10 Dec 202211Win9–2Arnel LubisiTKO2 (6)17 Sep 202210Loss8–2Sikho NqotholeUD89 Apr 20229Win8–1Khayalethu MbedjeKO1 (8)25 Sep 20218Loss7–1Sabelo NgebinyanaSD814 Mar 20217Win7–0Rofhiwa NemushungwaUD1019 Dec 20206Win6–0Mnqobi MqhizeTKO8 (10), 30 Nov 20195Win5–0Layten GlossTKO6 (10), 23 Aug 20194Win4–0Arnel LubisiKO1 (6)8 Jun 20193Win3–0Andile CindiUD624 Feb 20192Win2–0Tebogo MakwalaTKO1 (4), 8 Dec 20181Win1–0Nkululeko MinsoKO1 (4)21 Oct 2018
References