Eastern Cape boxer Xolisani ‘Nomeva’ Ndongeni is leaving for the United States of America on Thursday ahead of his fight against American pugilist Arnold Barboza Junior.
The former International Boxing Organisation (IBO) lightweight champion clashes with Barboza Jr 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.
Ndongeni’s trainer Mzamo ‘Chief’ Njekanye from Duncan Village in East London is only going to join his boxer in the US next week.
“I’m leaving for the United States on Thursday. Chief is going to leave next week,” the 33-year-old Ndongeni confirmed on Wednesday.
Ndongeni, a former SA junior-lightweight and lightweight champion, will go to this fight following a points loss to Ernesto de Jesus Mercado in July this year. And he 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.
