After fighting only once this year, former South African champion Xolisani ‘Nomeva’ Ndongeni will open 2024 with a fight overseas.
The 33-year-old Ndongeni from KwaBhaca is scheduled to face off against American boxer Arnold Barboza Junior in Las Vegas on Saturday, 6 January 2024 ( Sunday, 7 January, South African time).
Ndongeni will be attempting to wrestle the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) Intercontinental junior-welterweight title away from the unbeaten Barboza Jr.
Former SA junior-lightweight and lightweight champion Ndongeni goes to the fight on the back of a points loss to Ernesto de Jesus Mercado in July this year. Ndongeni remains the only boxer to have gone the distance with Mercado, who has 12 knockouts in 13 wins.
Meanwhile, the 32-year-old Barboza Jr from California in the United States has won all his 28 fights with 10 of those victories coming via the short distance.
