In an abrupt change of plan, Xolisani Ndongeni will fight at Emperors Palace on July 23, his first fight in SA in 15 months.
The unbeaten lightweight, forced to click his heels due to a succession of snarl-ups with agents and promoters, will share the billing with stablemate DeeJay Kriel.
This switch follows promoter Rodney Berman angrily shutting down negotiations with a Ghanaian promoter who reneged on their agreement. Ndongeni was in line to face Emmanuel Tagoe on August 11.
Berman was furious, saying, “I’ll never work with the promoter again. He negotiated in bad faith and yet again Nomeva is an unwitting victim.”
Ndongeni’s misfortune will, however, benefit local fans who last saw him at Emperors Palace two years ago, when he outboxed Mzonke Fana.
“We just want some action,” said peeved trainer Colin Nathan. “More than anything right now, Nomeva needs fights. I’m grateful that Golden Gloves has come through for us.”
Meanwhile, the Jason Bedeman-Jared Silverman fight has been scrapped after Silverman was knocked out in Cape Town on Friday.
