Xolisani ‘Nomeva’ Ndongeni, the KwaBhaca-born boxer whose search for glory took him across South Africa and the world, has officially announced his retirement from professional boxing at the age of 35.
Ndongeni’s decision to hang up his gloves comes in the wake of a second-round stoppage loss to the undefeated Colombian fighter Jhon Elin Orobio Siniestra. The fight was a World Boxing Council (WBC) Continental Americas junior-welterweight clash held in Montreal, Canada, on Friday morning (South African time).
A Veteran’s Farewell
Reflecting on his career, which saw him entertain fans from East London’s Orient Theatre to Gracaeland Casino in Secunda, and many international venues, Ndongeni expressed acceptance and a desire to quit on his own terms.
“It’s over for me now. It’s enough now, my time as a boxer has come to an end. I’m old now and I have young kids to take care of,” Ndongeni stated. “It’s been a nice ride for me. It’s a pity that I ended my boxing career in a low. Be that as it may, I didn’t want to be told by anyone that I must quit. I really didn’t want to be pushed to quit.”
The Final Fight
The former International Boxing Organisation (IBO) and South African lightweight champion, who concludes his career with 33 wins and 8 losses, praised his final opponent, Orobio.
“He’s got very strong punches and he showed me flames,” Ndongeni admitted. “He didn’t give me a chance, he put me under pressure and I couldn’t take it anymore thus I quit in round two. I was fit for the fight, but the guy was too good.”
Future Plans in Boxing
While stepping away from the ring as a fighter, Ndongeni assured fans that he won’t be leaving the sport entirely.
“Be rest assured that I’m not going to be lost to boxing even though at the moment I’m not sure what exactly I will be doing next,” he confirmed.
🏆 Career Highlights
During his notable career, Ndongeni accumulated several prestigious titles, including:
- South African (SA) Lightweight Champion
- International Boxing Organisation (IBO) International Lightweight Champion
- World Boxing Federation (WBF) International Junior-Lightweight Champion
- African Boxing Union (ABU) Junior-Welterweight Champion
