Cristiano Ndombassey steps in to take on Roarke Knapp at “No Love Lost,” replaces COVID positive Brandon Thysse.
Despite the best of precautions, the dreaded COVID19 virus remains a relentless opponent. Both Brandon Thysse and trainer Damien Durandt tested positive for the virus, putting the much-anticipated rematch with Roarke Knapp on ice, at least for now.
Still, the show must go on and Knapp will now take on the always dangerous, Cristiano “Warrior of Faith” Ndombassey over ten rounds for the WBA Pan African middleweight title.
The Cape Town based Angolan has a deceptive record of 12-5 with nine knockouts. He has always been in tough and has often had to take last minute fights. He is known for winning two wars against Johannes Salie and stunning the formidable Emmany Kalombo with a couple of rights before getting stopped himself in six rounds.
Unlike so many other fighters these days, inactivity will not be an issue for Ndombassey. He went 1-1 so far this year, handing Jami Webb his first defeat to capture the WBF international junior middleweight title and dropped a close decision to Lukas Ndafoluma for the WBO Africa middleweight strap.
Having started his fighting career as a kickboxer, the explosive Ndombassey has an unorthodox, search-and-destroy style. He is a hungry fighter and will be trying his best to score a career-defining upset.
It will be interesting to see how the higher weight and last-minute change of opponent will affect Knapp. If the Thysse rematch is to happen, he can not afford to slip up.
