Boxing trainer Mzamo ‘Chief’ Njekanye, the trainer of former world champion Xolisani ‘Nomeva’ Ndongeni, has refused to underestimate Apinun Khongsong from Thailand.
Khongsong is due to clash with Ndongeni in a 10 rounds international junior-welterweight bout in Durban on Thursday next week and Njekanye has insisted that they need to be careful of the Thai boxer.
The 26-year-old Khongsong, who is based in Bangkok, has won 20 fights and stopped 17 of his opponents against two defeats. He has 10 knockouts in his last 12 fights where he lost twice by stoppages.
“We are on top of our preparations knowing very well that we are coming up against a very good opponent, who has a very good record. We need to be very careful against him,” Njekanye said.
The Duncan Village-based boxing trainer has insisted that his main aim is to make sure that the KwaBhaca-born former International Boxing Organisation (IBO) lightweight champion gatecrashes world ratings.
“I would like to take Nomeva back to the world stage. I’m sure people saw the improvements in his last fight,” Njekanye remarked.
This is going to be the second time that the Johannesburg-based former South African junior-lightweight and lightweight titlist fights this year. He dominated Filipino boxer Reymond Yanong in Sandton, Johannesburg, in July.
Meanwhile, Khongsong last went the distance during his victory over Filipino boxer Adam Diu Abdulhamid in August 2018.
Khongsong failed to dethrone former World Boxing Association (WBA) ‘Super’ and International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior-welterweight champion Josh Taylor from Scotland when he challenged him in September 2020.
