It was nip and tuck all night between Xolisani Ndongeni and Mzonke Fana, with the younger Ndongeni winning a razor-thin majority decision against the veteran former world champion in a scrap for the WBA Pan-African lightweight title – 115-113, 115-113, 114-114. The faster, busier Ndongeni, now unbeaten in 18 fights, just scraped home against the shrewd, sassy Fana. It was like a chess match between two contrasting styles: the unorthodoxy and youth of Ndongeni against the wiles and skills of the proud ex-champion. After an electric start, Ndongeni settled into an easy rhythm, but the trouble was he never quite asserted himself. He was over cautious and boxed within himself, presumably because he gave Fana too much respect. Even at 41 and with his best years behind him, Fana was in marvellous shape and fought with great ambition. Although he threw many punches, Ndongeni’s movement made him a difficult target and he either rode or avoided the many shots that came his way. It was a tremendous win for Ndongeni, his best to date, and he will have learned many important lessons. Perhaps the most significant moment of all came in the minutes after the fight as Fana warmly embraced and joked with his younger rival. It seemed like a symbolic passing of the baton from a proud old warrior to a proud younger one - D-DAY AT THE PALACE was promoted by Golden Gloves Boxing Promotions and was hosted by Emperors Palace, 6 June 2015.
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It was nip and tuck all night between Xolisani Ndongeni and Mzonke Fana, with the younger Ndongeni winning a razor-thin majority decision against the veteran former world champion in a scrap for the WBA Pan-African lightweight title – 115-113, 115-113, 114-114. The faster, busier Ndongeni, now unbeaten in 18 fights, just scraped home against the shrewd, sassy Fana. It was like a chess match between two contrasting styles: the unorthodoxy and youth of Ndongeni against the wiles and skills of the proud ex-champion. After an electric start, Ndongeni settled into an easy rhythm, but the trouble was he never quite asserted himself. He was over cautious and boxed within himself, presumably because he gave Fana too much respect. Even at 41 and with his best years behind him, Fana was in marvellous shape and fought with great ambition. Although he threw many punches, Ndongeni’s movement made him a difficult target and he either rode or avoided the many shots that came his way. It was a tremendous win for Ndongeni, his best to date, and he will have learned many important lessons. Perhaps the most significant moment of all came in the minutes after the fight as Fana warmly embraced and joked with his younger rival. It seemed like a symbolic passing of the baton from a proud old warrior to a proud younger one - D-DAY AT THE PALACE was promoted by Golden Gloves Boxing Promotions and was hosted by Emperors Palace, 6 June 2015.
It was nip and tuck all night between Xolisani Ndongeni and Mzonke Fana, with the younger Ndongeni winning a razor-thin majority decision against the veteran former world champion in a scrap for the WBA Pan-African lightweight title – 115-113, 115-113, 114-114. The faster, busier Ndongeni, now unbeaten in 18 fights, just scraped home against the shrewd, sassy Fana. It was like a chess match between two contrasting styles: the unorthodoxy and youth of Ndongeni against the wiles and skills of the proud ex-champion. After an electric start, Ndongeni settled into an easy rhythm, but the trouble was he never quite asserted himself. He was over cautious and boxed within himself, presumably because he gave Fana too much respect. Even at 41 and with his best years behind him, Fana was in marvellous shape and fought with great ambition. Although he threw many punches, Ndongeni’s movement made him a difficult target and he either rode or avoided the many shots that came his way. It was a tremendous win for Ndongeni, his best to date, and he will have learned many important lessons. Perhaps the most significant moment of all came in the minutes after the fight as Fana warmly embraced and joked with his younger rival. It seemed like a symbolic passing of the baton from a proud old warrior to a proud younger one – D-DAY AT THE PALACE was promoted by Golden Gloves Boxing Promotions and was hosted by Emperors Palace, 6 June 2015.
Philadelphia, PA./Corona CA. (Oct. 25, 2016) – World ranked lightweight contender Xolisani Ndongeni and highly regarded featherweight prospect Ruben Villa will headline a terrific undercard on Friday night, November 4th at the Omega Products International Events Center in Corona, California.

Ndongeni of East Cape, South Africa has a record of 21-0 with 11 knockouts and is ranked number-2 by the WBA.

The 26 year-old will be making his American debut against Juan Garcia Mendez (19-1-1, 12 KO’s) of Mexicali, Mexico in a bout scheduled for ten-rounds.

Ndongeni turned professional in 2010 and is the IBO Lightweight champion and former South African Super Featherweight & Lightweight champion. Among his 21 wins is a win over former world champion Mzonke Fana. In his last bout, Ndongeni scored a 1st round stoppage over Emilio Norfat on April 22nd in East London, South Africa.

Ndongeni is promoted is Rodney Berman’s Golden Gloves Promotions.

Mendez, 24 years-old, is a 7 year professional, and is on a five-fight winning streak. In his last bout, Mendez stopped Roman Mendez in 1 round on May 29, 2015 in Mexicali, Mexico.

Villa of Salinas, California has a record of 2-0 with 2 1st-round knockouts.

The 19 year-old was a two-time National Golden Glove Champion, 2-time Jr. Olympics Champion, and 2015 Olympic Trials runner-up, and he holds two victories over 2016 Olympic silver medal winner Shakur Stevenson.

He turned professional on July 29th with a 1st round stoppage over Gerardo Molina. Villa followed that up with a first round stoppage over Jose Mora on September 23rd in Ontario, California.

Villa’s opponent in the scheduled four-round bout will be announced shortly.

In a 4-round super flyweight bout, Danny Andujo (2-0, 1 KO) of Temcula, California will battle Joel Cano (0-3) of Ciudad, Mexico.

Jonathan Esquivel of Anaheim, California will make his pro debut against an opponent to be named in a middleweight bout.

Tickets for the event promoted by Banner Promotions & Thompson, are priced at $100 (ringside), $70 (reserved) and $50 (general admission) and can be purchased by calling (714) 935-0900.

Undefeated 2012 Olympic Bronze Medalist Taras “Real Deal” Shelestyuk (14-0, 9 KOs) will face upset-minded Jaime Herrera in the 10-round welterweight main event of a ShoBox: The New Generation tripleheader on, live on SHOWTIME at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

In the co-feature, undefeated cruiserweights Constantin Bejenaru (11-0, 4 KOs, 0-1-1 in World Series of Boxing), of Catskill, NY by way of Moldova, and Stivens “Superman” Bujaj (16-0-1, 11 KOs), of New York, will collide in a 10-rounder for the vacant WBC International and WBC Continental Americas titles.

In the opening bout of the telecast, undefeated lightweight Vitor Jones Freitas (12-0, 1 ND, 6 KOs), of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, will be opposed by local fan favorite Manuel Mendez (12-1-2, 8 KOs), of Indio, CA, in an 8-round bout. The 23-year-old Freitas is the nephew of popular former four-time world champion Acelino “Popo” Freitas.

Barry Tompkins will call the ShoBox action from ringside with Steve Farhood and former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer is Gordon Hall with Rich Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

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About ShoBox: The New GenerationSince its inception in July 2001, the critically acclaimed SHOWTIME boxing series, ShoBox: The New Generation has featured young talent matched tough. The ShoBox philosophy is to televise exciting, crowd-pleasing and competitive matches while providing a proving ground for willing prospects determined to fight for a world title. Some of the growing list of the 67 fighters who have appeared on ShoBox and advanced to garner world titles includes: Andre Ward, Deontay Wilder, Erislandy Lara, Shawn Porter, Gary Russell Jr., Lamont Peterson, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Omar Figueroa, Nonito Donaire, Devon Alexander, Carl Froch, Robert Guerrero, Timothy Bradley, Jessie Vargas, Juan Manuel Lopez, Chad Dawson, Paulie Malignaggi, Ricky Hatton, Kelly Pavlik, Paul Williams and more.

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