Joseph Tsakani “Smokin Joe” Makaringe, one of South Africa’s top welterweight champions, passed away on Thursday at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital in Johannesburg. He was 49 years old. Born on January 2, 1975, in Giyani, Makaringe began his professional career on May 14, 1996, with a second-round technical knockout win over Edward Ramathape.
He achieved his next 12 victories impressively before claiming the vacant South African welterweight title on February 20, 2000, with a tenth-round technical knockout against Virgil Kalakoda. However, he experienced his first professional defeat in his following bout against Christian Bladt in Denmark, fighting for the vacant IBF Intercontinental welterweight title.
Makaringe defended the South African title successfully ten times, ranking second after Harold Volbrecht, who defended it 19 times. His professional record stood at 30 wins (25 by knockout), 4 losses, and 1 draw. Makaringe’s only other defeats came against Jan Bergman and in his final fights on May 12, 2007, against Apaslan Aguzum and Isaac Hlatshwao, in a contest for the vacant IBO welterweight title.
On August 26, 2005, in Secunda, he won the vacant WBC International welterweight title with a twelfth-round technical knockout over Philip Kotey. Despite his four losses, only one, inflicted by Jan Bergman, was a knockout, underscoring Makaringe’s skill in the ring. He remains celebrated as one of South Africa's foremost welterweights.
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