Konkco, Tete no match for me, says ‘Nomeva’
BOXER of the year award nominee Xolisani “Nomeva” Ndongeni has issued a strong warning to his fellow nominees that they must forget about the top boxer award.
Ndongeni made the warning ahead of the Boxing SA awards ceremony scheduled to be held at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Convention Centre in Durban on Friday.
Ndongeni is nominated alongside Simpiwe Konkco who is his stablemate at Colin Nathan’s HotBox gymnasium in Johannesburg and Mdantsane-based Zolani Tete.
His competitors boast an impressive body of work in the period under consideration with Tete an oddson-favourite due to his international run which included an eight-round knockout win over previously unbeaten English star, Paul Butler, in England in March 2015.
Konkco also had a stellar run as he picked up the pieces and relaunched his career with a fight against Hekkie Budler, which is a fight of the year candidate.
Konkco rebounded with victories over Siyabonga Siyo to win the IBO world title and retained it with another gusty performance against former division ruler, Nkosinathi Joyi.
But Ndongeni is unfazed about the stiff competition he is facing, falling short of anointing him as the recipient of the award.
“With all due respect to both Zolani and Konkco, they are great boxers whose achievements in the year under review should not to be scoffed at,” he said.
“But there is someone called Nomeva who does not know the meaning of defeat so, unfortunately, they will have to accept being losers in this category. If they were nominated among themselves maybe they would win but this is my time.”
Never shy to make bold predictions in and out of the ring, Ndongeni says the fact he is unbeaten in 22 bouts underlines his status as the best boxer in the land.
Also in the year under review he won the IBO world lightweight crown with a stoppage win over veteran but then still dangerous, Jasper Seroka before, sending Tanzanian Emilio Norfat to slumber in one round.
Ndongeni then travelled to the US for his first bout abroad and, despite the overwhelming experience of meeting among others, boxing greats Manny Pacquiao, Freddy Roach and veteran Hollywood actor, Sylvester Stallone, just before the fight he was able to dish out a scintillating performance against then once beaten Mexican Juan Garcia Mendez to win a convincing decision.
In fact, his performance was the most impressive by all the boxers from other countries who fought in the tournament.
This influenced top US promoter Art Pelullo to promise him another fight in the country possible in the next few months.
Reminded of Tete’s feat when he knocked out Butler who was chasing a 105-year British boxing record, Ndongeni said: “Yes Last Born did the country proud with that feat but let’s stop for a moment and compare apples to apples. I went to US which we all know is the boxing hub in the world and dished out a clean win in a tournament that featured other stars from other countries who were all looking to make a name for themselves in the US boxing scene but were overawed by the occasion.
“Zolani won by a knockout and we still do not know what would have happened had the fight went the full distance. So while I am not dissing his achievement I think the winner is clear to anyone.”
Ndongeni who grew up in KwaBhaca (formerly Mount Frere) in a village called Mgungundlovu, says while being nominated for the award is an achievement on its own, being placed there is proof of his boxing potential.
“I have never lost anything in my life and my unbeaten record tells the story. On Friday I will go up to the podium to accept my award.”
Ndongeni is so serious about making his mark in boxing that he has even quit his day job in Johannesburg where he moved to join Nathan after cutting his teeth under Mzamo “Chief “Njekanye in Duncan Village.