ONE-TIME world title challenger Jayson Mama is set to enter hostile territory as he challenges International Boxing Organization (IBO) super-flyweight champion Ricardo Malajika on Aug. 9, 2025, in Johannesburg, South Africa.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for me to compete for the IBO world title. I am dedicated to training rigorously and fighting with everything I’ve got. My ultimate goal is to bring the belt home to the Philippines and make my country proud,” Mama said.
Mama is vying for a world title in a minor organization that is not part of the four major world boxing
sanctioning bodies.
The 28-year-old Mama fought for a world title in 2021, challenging then-International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight champion Sunny Edwards but falling short via unanimous decision in Dubai, UAE.
Following that loss, Mama went on a four-fight winning streak before losing to Juan Carlos Camacho by split decision in a World Boxing Organization (WBO) NABO flyweight title bout in Puerto Rico
last year.
Mama is coming off a technical decision draw with Michael Bravo in Sultan Kudarat late last year.
Meanwhile, the 26-year-old Malajika is on a hot streak, winning seven straight fights. In that streak that started in 2022, he won two IBO titles -- one in the flyweight class and another in the super-flyweight division.
Malajika won the IBO super-flyweight belt with a unanimous decision victory over Marcel Braithwaite last year. He then had a successful title defense in which he knocked out Yanga Sigqibo in the
11th round.
Last March 1, 2025, Malajika moved down in weight and knocked out Jackson Chauke to win the IBO flyweight strap.
Mama is 20-2-1 with 10 knockouts, while Malajika is 15-2 with 11 knockouts. / EKA