Boxing News Boxing News
World ranked lightweight contender Xolisani Ndongeni and highly regarded featherweight prospect Ruben Villa will headline a terrific undercard on Friday night, November 4, 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 and Lightweight champion. Among his 21 wins is a victory over former world champion Mzonke Fana. In his last bout, Ndongeni scored a first round stoppage over Emilio Norfat on April 22 in East London, South Africa.
Ndongeni is promoted is Rodney Berman’s Golden Gloves Promotions.
Mendez, 24 years-old, is a seven year professional and is on a five-fight winning streak. In his last bout, Mendez stopped Roman Mendez in one round on May 29, 2015 in Mexicali, Mexico.
Villa of Salinas, California, has a record of 2-0 with two KO’s. The 19 year-old was a two-time National Golden Glove Champion, two-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 29 with a first round stoppage over Gerardo Molina. Villa followed that up with a first round stoppage over Jose Mora on September 23 in Ontario, California.
Villa’s opponent in the scheduled four-round bout will be announced shortly.
In a four-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.
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 ), 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 eight-round bout. The 23-year-old Freitas is the nephew of popular former four-time world champion Acelino “Popo” Freitas.
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.
