Boxers Ndongeni and Thulani Mbenge back in action
Eastern Cape boxing homies and gym mates in Johannesburg — Xolisani “Nomeva” Ndongeni and Thulani “Evolution” Mbenge — have been given opportunities to work their way back to the top, where they had already introduced themselves by winning IBO titles.
Ndongeni was at one point on the verge of challenging for the WBA belt and the boxer from Duncan Village even found himself rubbing shoulders with America’s mega star retired boxer Floyd “Money” Mayweather at his state-of-theart gym in Las Vegas.
Ndongeni — who walked away with the 2017 BSA boxer of the year award — was later matched with Devin Haney and the American prospect tainted Ndongeni’s image with a points defeat for both the WBC International and WBO InterContinental belt in January 2019. Ndongeni, whose taste of defeat came after 26 straight wins, bounced back and easily dispatched overmatched Tanzanian journeyman Mbena Rajab in a few rounds at the Portuguese Hall in September 2019.
Mbenge, on the other hand, made headlines while defending the SA crown, winning the ABU, WBC International and adding the IBO strap to his collection of belts.
His stability earned him the 2018 BSA boxer of the year gong.
He caught the attention of the WBC which recognised his abilities with a top 10 rating, and there were even talk of him challenging WBO holder Terence Crawford.
Mbenge’s career then took a huge knock when he lost the IBO belt to Sebastian Formella in Germany in his third defence of his title in July 2019.
He has not fought since that debatable defeat, which was his first after 15 straight wins.
Female promoter Joyce Kungwane of TLB Promotion has laid the foundation for the two to rebuild their careers.
Ndongeni is moving up to the junior welterweight division where he will mix it up with Prince Dlomo over eight rounds at the DOCC Hall, which is now known as the YMCA Hall, in Orlando East, Soweto, on October 17.
Dlomo, from Meadowlands in Soweto, has an unimpressive fight record of 11 losses and 10 wins.
Mbenge will attempt to reclaim the ABU strap when he takes on SA-based Congolese Mardochee Kuvesa Katembo.
Trainer Sean Smith says his charges cannot to lose in their upcoming fights.
“I am very excited to finally get both these guys in action. I want Mbenge to make a statement and I am telling you now if Mbenge has a good night this guy will be hurt badly. I want to teach that guy’s manager (Patrick Bonyeme) some manners and respect,” said Smith, who was reacting Bonyeme ‘s verbal barbs that Katembo would expose Mbenge’s weaknesses.
Katembo, who is trained here in SA by John Tshabalala, has 12 wins in 16 fights.