KwaBhaca boxer Xolisani “Nomeva” Ndongeni will continue his quest to finally get a world title shot when he takes on yet another unbeaten opponent, Hovhannes Bachkov, in a junior-welterweight clash at Rixos Tersane Istanbul in Turkiye on Wednesday.
While it is not clear whether the fight will count in the boxers’ professional bouts, as it is listed as being for the obscure International Boxing Association Intercontinental Pro title, Ndongeni will be hoping it reinforces his world title aspirations, which were revived when he won his last bout in March.
After a string of losses against unbeaten world top prospects, the Duncan Village boxing-bred boxer sprang a surprise when he inflicted the first loss on Puerto Rican rising star Nesto Bravo in his own backyard of Fajardo in March.
Not only did the win net the 35-year-old a WBA B-grade belt, but it was also expected to crash him into the world sanctioning bodies’ ratings owing to Bravo’s lofty spots in them.
The win was widely celebrated, with some even mistaking it for a real-world title triumph.
Surprisingly, the victory remained just that, with no rewards for Ndongeni, with world bodies not even reciprocating it with a rating.
Having established international networks, Ndongeni has been able to fashion another opportunity to be part of the IBA big event, which will coincide with an international media briefing, also featuring seven bouts contested for IBA pro matches as the world amateur body accelerates its encroachment into the professional set-up.
Ndongeni has previously participated in IBA boxing matches, losing to Russian Khariton Agrba in Serpukhov, Russia, in 2023.
Though world sanctioning bodies often frown upon recognising IBA fights, Wednesday bouts have been widely published, with even international boxing record keeper boxrec.com listing them in its schedule.
Ndongeni surprisingly left without his Duncan Village childhood mentor, Mzamo “Chief” Njekanye, who engineered his win in Puerto Rico, opting to take along Johannesburg trainer Sean Smith instead.
Asked why he had been left behind despite being part of the big win against Bravo, a seemingly agitated Njekanye said: “Please, I am not interested in talking about anything to do with Turkiye. I am busy focusing on boxing development, something very close to my heart.”
Against Bachokov, Ndongeni will face an opponent who is three years his junior, having won all but one of his seven bouts on stoppages.
Though he had already made retirement plans before upsetting Bravo, another victory for Ndongeni would consolidate his push for a world title shot as he marches into the sunset.
Most of his six losses in 39 bouts were suffered against world-class opposition, adding a spark to his name recognition owing to his reign as a two-time SA champion and IBO lightweight king.
Daily Dispatch
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