Ndongeni beats the competition
Top scrapper walks away with top award
XOLISANI “Nomeva” Ndongeni added another feather to the cap of his growing boxing career when he was voted boxer of the year at a glitzy SA Boxing Awards function at the Durban International Convention Centre last night.
Ndongeni who is unbeaten in 22 bouts, which include titles at junior lightweight and lightweight, beat stiff competition from Zolani Tete and clubmate Simpiwe Konkco for the award contested by Eastern Cape boxers.
By winning the award, Ndongeni made good of the predictions he had made to the Daily Dispatch earlier this week.
The predictions drew some criticism from certain boxing and provincial government officials as it was interpreted to be bordering on arrogance.
But Ndongeni stood by his remarks insisting he was within his rights to punt his chances when going to a competition.
And like he has done in all his fights, the Mount Frere-born boxer again backed up his bold predictions by walking away with the highest accolade in the annual SA boxing awards.
A former IBO champion who parted with his title without losing it in the ring, Ndongeni’s popularity is even transcending the casual fan barrier due to his trademark Nank’ uNomeva song.
Ndongeni said he was not surprised by winning the award given his body of work in the period on review.
“Firstly I need to thank BSA for recognising my efforts.
“Then I need to thank everyone who has made me who I am today. From Chief [Njekanye, his previous trainer] to Colin [Nathan, his current trainer]. There is still more to achieve with winning a major world title – my ultimate goal.”
Ndongeni’s fairytale run is incredible judging by the fact that he did not even know there is a sport called boxing while growing up in his Mgungundlovu rural village in Mount Frere.
And he acquired the skill through fisticuffs with his peers while scavenging for stale bread scraps at Amalinda dumpsite.
So, getting voted as best boxer in the land is an incredible achievement for someone who joined boxing by chance.
Ndongeni who is rated second for the WBA lightweight title held by Jorge Linares who rematches with previous title holder Anthony Crolla this March, is expected to be elevated to the top spot as top-rated Petr Petrov is pursuing a WBO title route and will therefore be removed from the WBA ratings.
Ndongeni’s triumph was one of many for the Eastern Cape which made a clean sweep.
In the woman boxer of the year category also featuring all nominees from the province, Idutywaborn Bukiwe Nonina walked away with the honours beating her two East London peers Sharoddene Fortuin and Leighandre Jegels.
Nonina, who owns a win over Fortuin, got the nod for defending her SA bantamweight title a record five times becoming the first woman to do so.
Hot Duncan Village prospect Azinga Fuzile was unanimously voted as the winner of the prospect of the year award seeing off stiff competition from Thulani Mbenge of Mdantsane and Brendon Thysse from Gauteng.
The fight of the year went to Mthatha’s Simpiwe Konkco and Hekkie Budler for their IBO and WBA mini-flyweight duel while Tete walked away with the knockout of the year award for his breathtaking stoppage of Englishman Paul Butler.
Other awards were: promoter of the year – Reel Steel Promotions; most promising promoter – Dream Team Promotions; manager of the year – Mla Tengimfene (East London); most promising ring official – Mandisi Mkile (Mdantsane); trainer of the year – Chief Njekanye (Duncan Village); male ring official – Deon Dwarte; woman ring official – Sylvia Mokaila; woman fight of the year – Fortuin v Simone Da Silva.