Top Johannesburg promoter Rodney Berman has slammed the outcome of the fight between his new recruit Xolisani Ndongeni and Mzonke Fana which took place at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park at the weekend.
Ndongeni was awarded a majority points decision as well as the WBA Pan-African lightweight crown when he appeared to have lost to Fana.
The Mount Frere-born boxer was making his debut under Berman’s Golden Gloves Promotion show amid fanfare after he left East London to join trainer Colin Nathan in Johannesburg.
Touted as the next Dingaan Thobela, Ndongeni could not reciprocate the wild publicity he got before the fight as he struggled to contend with Fana’s jab throughout the fight.
Berman, who was also blown away by the boxer’s ring entrance and expected so much from him, admitted that the outcome of the fight left much to be desired.
As a result Berman has ordered a rematch between the two and has managed to secure the vacant IBO crown as a carrot.
“I must say the outcome of the Ndongeni’s fight against Fana took me by surprise,” he said.
“I know you guys like him down there and perhaps the stage was too big for him but he did not live up to expectations.”
However, Berman commended Fana adding that he would ensure the pair fight again with the IBO crown on the line.
“Fana is one of those evergreen boxers that you can never write-off. With his performance he deserves another opportunity and I have already spoken to the IBO to put its title on the line for the rematch.”
Berman has already slotted the fight on his September 9 date headlined by the WBA/IBO mini-flyweight duel between Hekkie Budler and Tsolo-born Mthatha-based Simpiwe Konkco.
With the addition of Ndongeni-Fana rematch, the card is shaping up to be a boxing extravaganza featuring three boxers from neighbouring rural towns of the Eastern Cape in Fana who hails from Qumbu, Ndongeni (Mount Frere) and Konkco (Tsolo).
Nathan, who felt his charge won the fight by taking the last two rounds, says Ndongeni will dominate Fana in the rematch.
“Remember this was our first fight together and there are things we are still working on,” he said. “And Fana is a tricky boxer but I believe Ndongeni will be well prepared in the rematch.”
However, boxing fans in East London are already dismissing Ndongeni especially as he also struggled in his Premier Boxing League winning fight against Vusumzi Tyatyeka in East London in February.
This when he huffed and puffed to unimpressive points win.
“The Ndongeni we saw against Fana is the very same Ndongeni we saw against Tyatyeka,” one prominent boxing fan said.
“I think the Ndongeni that kicked butt in the ring is gone.”
With the gift decision against Fana, Ndongeni kept his 17 fights unbeaten record intact.
‘Nomeva’ has Berman hot under collar
Ndongeni was awarded a majority points decision as well as the WBA Pan-African lightweight crown when he appeared to have lost to Fana.
The Mount Frere-born boxer was making his debut under Berman’s Golden Gloves Promotion show amid fanfare after he left East London to join trainer Colin Nathan in Johannesburg.
Touted as the next Dingaan Thobela, Ndongeni could not reciprocate the wild publicity he got before the fight as he struggled to contend with Fana’s jab throughout the fight.
Berman, who was also blown away by the boxer’s ring entrance and expected so much from him, admitted that the outcome of the fight left much to be desired.
As a result Berman has ordered a rematch between the two and has managed to secure the vacant IBO crown as a carrot.
“I must say the outcome of the Ndongeni’s fight against Fana took me by surprise,” he said.
“I know you guys like him down there and perhaps the stage was too big for him but he did not live up to expectations.”
However, Berman commended Fana adding that he would ensure the pair fight again with the IBO crown on the line.
“Fana is one of those evergreen boxers that you can never write-off. With his performance he deserves another opportunity and I have already spoken to the IBO to put its title on the line for the rematch.”
Berman has already slotted the fight on his September 9 date headlined by the WBA/IBO mini-flyweight duel between Hekkie Budler and Tsolo-born Mthatha-based Simpiwe Konkco.
With the addition of Ndongeni-Fana rematch, the card is shaping up to be a boxing extravaganza featuring three boxers from neighbouring rural towns of the Eastern Cape in Fana who hails from Qumbu, Ndongeni (Mount Frere) and Konkco (Tsolo).
Nathan, who felt his charge won the fight by taking the last two rounds, says Ndongeni will dominate Fana in the rematch.
“Remember this was our first fight together and there are things we are still working on,” he said. “And Fana is a tricky boxer but I believe Ndongeni will be well prepared in the rematch.”
However, boxing fans in East London are already dismissing Ndongeni especially as he also struggled in his Premier Boxing League winning fight against Vusumzi Tyatyeka in East London in February.
This when he huffed and puffed to unimpressive points win.
“The Ndongeni we saw against Fana is the very same Ndongeni we saw against Tyatyeka,” one prominent boxing fan said.
“I think the Ndongeni that kicked butt in the ring is gone.”
With the gift decision against Fana, Ndongeni kept his 17 fights unbeaten record intact.
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