Latest news with #HovhannesBachkov
IOL News
2 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Ndongeni stands tall in Istanbul despite short-notice defeat
Armenia's Hovhannes Bachkov receives the IBA International Super Lightweight title after defeating South Africa's Xolisani Ndongeni in Istanbul, Türkiye. Bachkov also successfully defended his WBA Continental title. Photo: IBA Image: IBA South Africa's fighting veteran, Xolisani Ndongeni, is a contented man who will not look back at his IBA Pro 7 fight with any regrets. The 40-fight professional was called upon as a late replacement for Uzbek athlete Shohjahon Ergashev in a WBA Intercontinental junior welterweight title fight against Armenia's Hovhannes Bachkov at a prestigious International Boxing Association event in Istanbul, Türkiye. The two-day event, which featured a handful of global superstars and was billed as the 'unveiling of IBA's bold new vision and the ushering in of boxing's Golden Era', included the likes of Tyson Fury, Terence Crawford, and many others. There, in front of icons of the sport, Mzansi's veteran pushed his opponent — a 2020 Summer Olympics bronze medallist — for nine rounds before losing via TKO after his corner threw in the towel. It was an impressive feat considering that Ndongeni (33-7) only learnt of the fight a few days before the showpiece. 'The fight was good. Firstly, congratulations to Hovhannes (8-0) — he is a good boy, a good fighter,' said Ndongeni. 'You know, this fight was meant for me. I faced many challenges before it. Before I got news of the bout, I had the flu for a week, which impacted my training, as I stayed away from the gym for some time. "Then I got a call from IBA saying there is a fight next week, and I thought, 'next week Saturday', as most fights are on Saturdays. Then I found out it was on a Wednesday. "I asked, 'Who am I fighting?' "They showed me the guy, and I said, 'Cool, let's go'.' Video Player is loading. 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Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Bachkov is one of the fastest-rising stars in the world and is set to make a name for himself on the professional scene following a decorated amateur career. 'He is good, but you know, I've been around. I fought the likes of Devin Haney and Arnold Barboza Jr — I've faced good guys. 'The reason I took this fight was because I got to fight for the title that I was supposed to receive in March earlier this year, when I faced Puerto Rico's Nestor Bravo,' said Ndongeni, who beat the Puerto Rican in his home country. 'So when this fight came, and the shot at that same title was on the line, to me, it was God's doing. I needed my chance to lose the title, because I didn't receive it or the award in Puerto Rico. So I am grateful to God that I was able to fight for it and rather lose it inside the ring.' Ndongeni and Bachkov kept fans inside the Rixos Tersane venue enthralled as the two warriors delivered a clinical display. The South African displayed a high-volume work rate, mixing body and head shots. Bachkov, by contrast, was more patient with his stick-and-jab combinations and selective with his punches. Both athletes showed great composure and excellent head movement. But ultimately, it was the stoic Bachkov whose power and precision won the day after he rocked Ndongeni with a head shot that dropped the African warrior. Ndongeni went down for a count and attempted to rise, but his experienced corner — led by renowned South African coach Sean Smith — had seen enough and threw in the towel, one round short of a scheduled ten-round championship contest. 'Yes, it was on a week's notice, but it's all good — it doesn't take away from the fighter,' said a gracious Ndongeni. 'He won the fight. He caught me with good punches — not so much the body shots, but the head shots. I got dizzy from those. "When I took the count, I was about to get back up, and then I saw my coaches throw in the towel. I'm grateful to my team at the end of the day. It's good to have someone who looks out for you. 'If a coach doesn't care, he will let you fight on. At least I can say I live to fight another day. Coaches see things you can't always see in the ring, so salute to my corner and my coaches. 'South Africa, we did our best. We came, we fell short — but we live to fight another day. I believe I'm going to be a champion one day, again,' added Ndongeni, who has held multiple titles, including the IBO Intercontinental, WBF Intercontinental, WBA Africa, and World IBO championships. Speaking at a glittering press conference and event before the IBA Pro Fight Night last week, IBA President Umar Kremlev highlighted the organisation's renewed vision and mission to open doors for amateur and professional boxers worldwide by empowering them to pursue their dreams — something that has not always been possible for many athletes. Kremlev outlined plans to build a robust support ecosystem for fighters from all backgrounds — amateur, professional, and bare-knuckle. 'Our goal is to ensure every athlete knows that IBA is their boxing home. We must create opportunities for children so that they can develop positively. We want to help children establish a new future for themselves and their families,' said Kremlev, whose organisation has long been a powerhouse in the amateur boxing world. 'This is like Real Madrid — you go through the amateur ranks, you earn your stripes, and then, if you want to go professional, we will take care of you,' added Al Siesta, director of IBA Pro. Kremlev also expressed his affection for Mzansi when asked about future plans in the Rainbow Nation. 'We have already hosted the Mandela Cup there in South Africa, and we also plan on staging an IBA Pro Night of Champions in South Africa,' he told Independent Media and MzansiMMA. 'We love South Africa very much. The African continent in general is a special place, and we have many talented boxers from there. A lot of events will be happening in Africa,' added Kremlev. With this news, Ndongeni is excited about the IBA's renewed direction and believes South African boxers can only benefit from the organisation's ambitions. 'This doesn't come around every time, you know,' he said. 'Being in South Africa is sometimes difficult. We have a lot of talent, a lot of boxers — and a lot of good boxers who can be champions. But opportunities like this don't come to many of us.'
IOL News
03-07-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
IBA can be the launch pad for future South African boxing world champions, says Ndongeni
South African boxer Xolisani Ndongeni throws a left hook against Hovhannes Bachkov at the IBA Pro 7 card at the Rixos Tersane Istanbul on Wednesday night. Picture: IBA Image: Picture: IBA Xolisani Ndongeni believes the International Boxing Association (IBA) could be the springboard South African boxers have been yearning for to further their professional careers. Ndongeni (33-7, 19 KOs) was one of the main attractions at the 7 card at the Rixos Tersane Istanbul where he was called up as a late replacement after former world title challenger Shohjahon Ergashev pulled out injured ahead of the WBA Intercontinental junior welterweight title fight against the big-punching Hovhannes Bachkov. Despite the 35-year-old, who is known locally as 'Nomeva The Wasp', only having one week to prepare for the fight, he still managed to put up a solid showing against Bachkov by pushing the 2020 Armenian Olympic bronze medalist Bachkov to nine rounds before his corner threw in the towel. 'It is one of those things, you know, that's boxing, that's sport. You win some, you lose some,' Ndongeni exclusively told Independent Media. 'Respect to the champion, he did well, you know. For myself, I pushed, I did well, I have no excuses. I'm not complaining. South African Xolisani Ndongeni was a big hit at the @iba_pro_boxing card held at the Rixos Tersane Istanbul. @IOL @IOLsport — Zaahier Adams (@ZaahierAdams) July 3, 2025 Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading 'I saw what happened in the ring. And yeah, I believe that I did good for myself, for this particular time that I had to prepare for the fight. Just one week! 'Yeah, they called me on Monday. They said, next week. 'I'm like, next week? Okay, at least I have like 14 days.' No, next Wednesday. But you know what, I'm a fighter, I have a fight in me.' The 7 card followed up a spectacular day with the launch of the IBA 'Golden Era' earlier in the day with former heavyweight champions Tyson Fury and David Haye in attendance along with American multi-weight champion Terrence Crawford. Ndongeni was elated that he had the chance to step in the ring before such boxing legends and feels that more South African boxers could be granted opportunities under the auspices of the IBA. 'This don't come every time, you know,' he said. 'Being in South Africa sometimes is really difficult. We have a lot of talent, a lot of boxers, a lot of good boxers that can be champions. But opportunities like this, they don't come to many of us.
