Confusion is reigning over Xolisani “Nomeva “ Ndongeni’s renouncement of the IBO world lightweight title ahead of his big US debut next month.
Ndongeni from KwaBhaca (formerly Mount Frere) confirmed yesterday that he was no longer the IBO world champion but could not explain if he vacated the crown or he was stripped.
The 27-year-old will make his long-awaited US debut when he takes on big punching Ismael Barroso, a Venezuelan in a Banner Promotions tournament in California on November 4.
Ndongeni, whose popularity transcends demographic barriers due to his flamboyant ring entrances lapped by the trademark “Nomeva” song, won the IBO title when he stopped veteran Jasper Seroka in a Sijuta Promotions tournament at Selborne Park tennis court in November last year.
However, he never defended the crown as he engaged in a non-title clash in his next bout when he blew away Tanzanian Emilio Norfat in one round this past April.
His win over Norfat was followed by controversy over his non purse payment by Sijuta.
With the IBO’s rule stipulating for a title defence within 12 months, Ndongeni was in danger of being stripped of his crown until the Barroso fight was organised.
But his promoter Rodney Berman who will co-promote the fight, reportedly sat down with him to ask him if he wanted to put his title at stake against the Venezuelan.
Ndongeni confirmed that Berman expressed concerns over the requirement to pay the sanctioning fee of the IBO in the fight.
“Rodney asked me if I wanted to have the IBO title at stake and when the issue of the sanctioning fee was raised when it was hinted that it could come off my purse, I decided to let go of the title,” he said.
While it is every boxer’s dream to hold the title and being introduced as a world champion in the ring against Barroso would have enhanced his marketability, Ndongeni said the title had instead stagnated his career.
“I could not engage in a 10 round fight while I was a champion and to me even long before the discussion on whether I should defend it against Barroso I had had enough of it. Opponents avoid you when you are a world champion of these minor bodies and you end up getting no action.”
Rated second by WBA, which is one of the four major world titles he is gunning for, Ndongeni knows that parting with the IBO crown will mean he will have to beat Barroso at all cost as he will have nothing to fall back on should he lose.
Barroso is a former WBA interim champion having lost his last fight to Englishman Anthony Crolla by stoppage when he challenged for the fully fledged WBA crown this past May.
Ironically, before the fight Daily Dispatch asked Ndongeni if he would be watching it to gauge the ability of both boxers and he had no idea who they were.
When reminded of the question now that he would be facing Barroso, he laughed before saying: “ I remember you asking me about that fight but then I paid no attention to international boxing. But since my fight with Barroso was announced I have gone back to search for the video footage of that fight and I saw what I wanted to see, so I am ready.”
There have been questions over Berman’s decision to throw Ndongeni against such a dangerous opponent in his US debut.
But Berman stated that it was time for Ndongeni to show the world what he is made of.
“He will have to either go big or go home,” Berman said.
“This is the big stage for Nomeva but we believe in him so a win here will propel him into the big league in the lightweight division,” added the promoter.
Barroso’s loss to Crolla was only his first with all but one of his 19 victories coming by stoppages.
Ndongeni is yet to taste a defeat in 21 bouts.
Nomeva’s IBO crown poser
Ndongeni from KwaBhaca (formerly Mount Frere) confirmed yesterday that he was no longer the IBO world champion but could not explain if he vacated the crown or he was stripped.
The 27-year-old will make his long-awaited US debut when he takes on big punching Ismael Barroso, a Venezuelan in a Banner Promotions tournament in California on November 4.
Ndongeni, whose popularity transcends demographic barriers due to his flamboyant ring entrances lapped by the trademark “Nomeva” song, won the IBO title when he stopped veteran Jasper Seroka in a Sijuta Promotions tournament at Selborne Park tennis court in November last year.
However, he never defended the crown as he engaged in a non-title clash in his next bout when he blew away Tanzanian Emilio Norfat in one round this past April.
His win over Norfat was followed by controversy over his non purse payment by Sijuta.
With the IBO’s rule stipulating for a title defence within 12 months, Ndongeni was in danger of being stripped of his crown until the Barroso fight was organised.
But his promoter Rodney Berman who will co-promote the fight, reportedly sat down with him to ask him if he wanted to put his title at stake against the Venezuelan.
Ndongeni confirmed that Berman expressed concerns over the requirement to pay the sanctioning fee of the IBO in the fight.
“Rodney asked me if I wanted to have the IBO title at stake and when the issue of the sanctioning fee was raised when it was hinted that it could come off my purse, I decided to let go of the title,” he said.
While it is every boxer’s dream to hold the title and being introduced as a world champion in the ring against Barroso would have enhanced his marketability, Ndongeni said the title had instead stagnated his career.
“I could not engage in a 10 round fight while I was a champion and to me even long before the discussion on whether I should defend it against Barroso I had had enough of it. Opponents avoid you when you are a world champion of these minor bodies and you end up getting no action.”
Rated second by WBA, which is one of the four major world titles he is gunning for, Ndongeni knows that parting with the IBO crown will mean he will have to beat Barroso at all cost as he will have nothing to fall back on should he lose.
Barroso is a former WBA interim champion having lost his last fight to Englishman Anthony Crolla by stoppage when he challenged for the fully fledged WBA crown this past May.
Ironically, before the fight Daily Dispatch asked Ndongeni if he would be watching it to gauge the ability of both boxers and he had no idea who they were.
When reminded of the question now that he would be facing Barroso, he laughed before saying: “ I remember you asking me about that fight but then I paid no attention to international boxing. But since my fight with Barroso was announced I have gone back to search for the video footage of that fight and I saw what I wanted to see, so I am ready.”
There have been questions over Berman’s decision to throw Ndongeni against such a dangerous opponent in his US debut.
But Berman stated that it was time for Ndongeni to show the world what he is made of.
“He will have to either go big or go home,” Berman said.
“This is the big stage for Nomeva but we believe in him so a win here will propel him into the big league in the lightweight division,” added the promoter.
Barroso’s loss to Crolla was only his first with all but one of his 19 victories coming by stoppages.
Ndongeni is yet to taste a defeat in 21 bouts.
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