Tulani Mbenge

Professional Career

Since his professional debut on May 16, 2015, where he secured a knockout against Makhosonke Abrahams in Durban, South Africa, Mbenge has consistently displayed his prowess and tactical superiority in the ring. Mbenge’s early career was marked by a series of emphatic wins, typically concluding his fights by knockout, underscoring his power and aggressive fighting style. Notable among these was his victory over Vusi Bilankulu in July 2015, and subsequent wins against opponents like Xolani Mgidi and Thabo Mnguni, which were all ended within the initial rounds, showcasing his ability to dispatch opponents quickly.

The year 2017 was particularly fruitful for Mbenge as he captured the South Africa Welterweight Title by defeating Shaun Ness via a TKO in April, and successfully defended this title against Mziwoxolo Ndwayana in September. His ascendancy continued as he won the vacant WBC International Welterweight Title in March 2018 by unanimously outpointing Diego Cruz, further establishing his standing in the international welterweight division. Mbenge’s prowess was on full display when he clinched the IBO Welterweight Title in June 2018 by defeating Diego Gabriel Chaves. He successfully defended this title against the formidable Miguel Vazquez, who retired in the ninth round of their December 2018 bout, highlighting Mbenge’s capability to maintain his composure and dominance against experienced fighters.

Despite a setback in 2019, losing to Sebastian Formella and thus the IBO World Welterweight Title, Mbenge bounced back strongly. He captured the WBA Pan African Welterweight Title in 2021 with a TKO win over Jabulani Makhense and continued to showcase his resilience and skill. The pinnacle of his recent career was his attempt at the vacant WBC Silver Welterweight Title in December 2022 against Souleymane Cissokho in Nantes, France. Although he lost by a majority decision, the closely contested match demonstrated Mbenge’s durability and ability to compete at the highest levels.