Boxing In Canada: Ngoudjo Wins IBF Eliminator In Montreal

Friday night at the Uniprix Stadium in Montreal, local light welter Herman “Black Panther” Ngoudjo bounced back from a close loss to IBF Champion Paulie Malignaggi in January to win that organization’s official title eliminator at 140 lb by posting a hard fought unanimous decision against former WBA Champion Souleymane “The Sensation” M’baye of France.

Ngoudjo started well and worked his advantage in strength well against the rangy M’baye but by the middle rounds the Canadian was put to great disadvantage after suffering a swelling that closed his left eye.

The experienced former world champion punished the one-eyed Ngoudjo but could not hurt the iron-chinned native Cameroonian, expending a great deal of energy in the process.

The resurgent Ngoudjo took the initiative in the later rounds and forced M’baye to fight in close quarters, nullifying the effect of both his own injury and the reach differential enjoyed by the Parisian.

By the time the 12th and final round was over, Ngoudjo had won another opportunity at the IBF title by taking the scorecards 117-111, 116-112 and 115-113.

Regardless of who wins the upcoming IBF title fight between reigning champion Malignaggi and England’s Ricky Hatton, a former holder of the belt, Ngoudjo should prove to be a difficult man to beat.

On the undercard, 23 year old Manolis Plaitis, 12-0 (7), of Montreal defeated cross-town southpaw rival Bakary Sako, 7-6-3 (1), over ten rounds to annex the vacant Canadian Light Welterweight title.

Former IBF Middleweight title challenger Sebastien Demers, 25-1 (9), won an eight rounder over St. Louis based American Sam “The Punching Policeman” Hill, 17-8-1 (10) and undefeated French light welter Ali Chebah, 26-0 (20), stayed perfect with a fifth round TKO against Mexico’s Jorge Luis Lopez, 12-24 (10).