WBA Pan African lightweight champion Xolisani “Nomeva” Ndongeni says the No7 spot he has been given by the WBA’s ratings committee is the result of hard work.
He also says he intends to step in the footsteps of Peter Mathebula, Gerrie Coetzee, Piet Crous, Brian Mitchell and Dingaan Thobela, who remain the only locals to have won WBA belts.
Mathebula captured the flyweight title from South Korean Tae-Shik Kim in the US in 1980. Three years later Coetzee knocked American Michael Dokes for the heavyweight strap, also in the US. A year later Crous won the lightweight belt with a unanimous points decision after 15 rounds against Puerto Rican Ossie Ocassio at Sun City, where Mitchell stopped Panamanian Alfredo Layne in the 10th round for the junior lightweight belt in 1986.
Seven years later Thobela ended the reign of American Tony Lopez in winning the lightweight title after 12 rounds, also at Sun City on June 26.
That title – which Ndongeni is eyeing – is currently held by Anthony Crolla from Great Britain.
Ndongeni paid tribute to the WBA for recognising him with a top 10 rating.
“This is one of the big four boxing bodies in the world, so I feel honoured, really,” said the 25-year-old boxer, who remains undefeated after 20 bouts. “It feels like I have already won the WBA title.”
The Johannesburg-based Eastern Cape fighter, who also holds the IBO strap, also gave credit to his manager Colin Nathan and promoter Rodney Berman for making sure in their year-long union that Ndongeni fought for both the WBA Pan African and IBO straps, which he won against Mzonke Fana and Jasper Seroka, respectively, last year.
He had been with trainer Chief Njekanye in Duncan Village where they both won the SA and WBF International junior lightweight, SA and IBO International lightweight straps as well as Dicksy Ngqula’s controversial Premier Boxing League last February.
Said Nathan: “The danger man is WBA Interim champion Ismael Barroso . He can punch but I honestly believe that if we are offered a fight against regular WBA champion Crolla I would take it because Nomeva’s style would give Crolla nightmares.
“Having said that I would like to have Nomeva defend his IBO title two more times and take it from there. Ndongeni works very hard and I am proud of him.”
Ndongeni ready to go places
He also says he intends to step in the footsteps of Peter Mathebula, Gerrie Coetzee, Piet Crous, Brian Mitchell and Dingaan Thobela, who remain the only locals to have won WBA belts.
Mathebula captured the flyweight title from South Korean Tae-Shik Kim in the US in 1980. Three years later Coetzee knocked American Michael Dokes for the heavyweight strap, also in the US. A year later Crous won the lightweight belt with a unanimous points decision after 15 rounds against Puerto Rican Ossie Ocassio at Sun City, where Mitchell stopped Panamanian Alfredo Layne in the 10th round for the junior lightweight belt in 1986.
Seven years later Thobela ended the reign of American Tony Lopez in winning the lightweight title after 12 rounds, also at Sun City on June 26.
That title – which Ndongeni is eyeing – is currently held by Anthony Crolla from Great Britain.
Ndongeni paid tribute to the WBA for recognising him with a top 10 rating.
“This is one of the big four boxing bodies in the world, so I feel honoured, really,” said the 25-year-old boxer, who remains undefeated after 20 bouts. “It feels like I have already won the WBA title.”
The Johannesburg-based Eastern Cape fighter, who also holds the IBO strap, also gave credit to his manager Colin Nathan and promoter Rodney Berman for making sure in their year-long union that Ndongeni fought for both the WBA Pan African and IBO straps, which he won against Mzonke Fana and Jasper Seroka, respectively, last year.
He had been with trainer Chief Njekanye in Duncan Village where they both won the SA and WBF International junior lightweight, SA and IBO International lightweight straps as well as Dicksy Ngqula’s controversial Premier Boxing League last February.
Said Nathan: “The danger man is WBA Interim champion Ismael Barroso . He can punch but I honestly believe that if we are offered a fight against regular WBA champion Crolla I would take it because Nomeva’s style would give Crolla nightmares.
“Having said that I would like to have Nomeva defend his IBO title two more times and take it from there. Ndongeni works very hard and I am proud of him.”
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