Lovemore N'dou
Encyclopedia
Lovemore N'dou is an Australian based South African boxer.
He was the IBF
world light welterweight
champion, until he lost the title to Paul Malignaggi
.
, South Africa, and started boxing a the age of 16. He had a successful amateur career of 68 fights with 66 wins and 2 losses, where he was a four-time South African champion in four consecutive years. He could not compete on an international level as South Africa then was banned from international competition due to its practice of Apartheid.
N'dou made his professional debut in 1993 against Enoch Khuzwayo in Johannesburg
, South Africa winning on a points decision.
In his 13th professional fight in August 1995, Ndou fought for the South African Super Featherweight Title against Mthobeli Mhlophe with the contest ending in a draw. After that bout Ndou left South Africa and migrated to settle in Australia beginning a run of 17 consecutive victories from May 1996 to June 2000 rising to a world WBC
#2 ranking, before a loss in a 10 round unanimous points decision against former WBC International champion Guillermo Mosquera.
After the loss to Mosquera, Ndou lost motivation and fought rarely with only 3 fights in 2 years before heading to the United States for 3 fights during 2002 culminating in 2 losses.
Ndou won his first major professional title on 29 November 2002 defeating Sarit Saeknaew by TKO to claim the IBF Pan Pacific Light Welterweight Title at Festival Hall
in Melbourne
. During 2003, Ndou made three successful defences of his IBF Pan Pacific Light Welterweight Title before an IBF World Light Welterweight Title bout against Sharmba Mitchell
on 7 February 2004 in Atlantic City, USA. Ndou lost the bout against Mitchell via a unanimous points decision.
Following the loss to Mitchell, Ndou returned to Australia to defend his IBF Pan Pacific Light Welterweight Title twice before heading to Las Vegas, Nevada
, USA to fight Miguel Angel Cotto for the WBC International Light Welterweight Title and WBA Fedelatin Light Welterweight Title on 8 May 2004 with Ndou again losing via a unanimous points decision. Ndou closed out 2004 retaining his IBF Pan Pacific Light Welterweight Title against Ruben Francisco Silva Diaz in Sydney.
Ndou began 2005 with a 12 rounds unanimous points loss to Junior Witter
at the Staples Center
, Los Angeles, USA for the Commonwealth Light Welterweight Title. Over the next 18 months following the loss to Witter, Ndou defended his IBF Pan Pacific Light Welterweight Title on four occasions to rise to the world IBF #1 Light Welterweight ranking at the start of 2007.
On 4 February 2007 in Sydney, Ndou fought in the Australian Fight of the Year and defeated Naoufel Ben Rabah
in an IBF World Light Welterweight Title Eliminator for the right to meet current title holder Ricky Hatton
, after Hatton had won the title against Juan Urango
in Las Vegas, USA two weeks earlier. Hatton however refused the IBF's demand that he fight Ndou for the IBF World Light Welterweight Title, instead scheduling a fight against José Luis Castillo
. Following Hatton's decision, the IBF stripped Hatton of the IBF World Light Welterweight Title, awarding Ndou the title on 12 February 2007. Ndou lost his first title defense on 16 June 2007 against American Paul Malignaggi
in Uncasville, Connecticut
, USA.
After that bout N'dou stayed in America and worked as the main sparring partner for Floyd Mayweather for his bout against Ricky Hatton
. While waiting to fight Malignaggi again he knocked out Rafael Ortiz in the 7th round as a stay busy fight. On 24 May 2008, Lovemore got his rematch against Malignaggi. The bout was fought as the main supporting bout to the Ricky Hatton
VS Juan Lazcano
bout at the City of Manchester Stadium
in Manchester, United Kingdom. The bout was a much different one from their first encounter, with Malignaggi taking the lead a lot more and N'dou playing the role of counter-puncher. CompuBox Punchstats showed that N'dou landed 23% of his punches, while Malignaggi connected with 17%. In the end the Malignaggi again won the bout, this time by a close split decision
.
He was the IBF
International Boxing Federation
The International Boxing Federation or IBF is one of four major organizations recognized by IBHOF which sanction world championship boxing bouts, alongside the WBA, WBC and WBO.- History :...
world light welterweight
Light welterweight
-Professional boxing:The light welterweight class is a weight division in professional boxing that has a limit of 63.5 kg or 140 pounds...
champion, until he lost the title to Paul Malignaggi
Paul Malignaggi
Paul "Paulie" Malignaggi is an Italian-American professional boxer. He is the former IBF junior welterweight champion, and former WBO NABO light welterweight champion.-Light Welterweight:...
.
Fight career
Lovemore was born in TransvaalTransvaal Province
Transvaal Province was a province of the Union of South Africa from 1910 to 1961, and of its successor, the Republic of South Africa, from 1961 until the end of apartheid in 1994 when a new constitution subdivided it.-History:...
, South Africa, and started boxing a the age of 16. He had a successful amateur career of 68 fights with 66 wins and 2 losses, where he was a four-time South African champion in four consecutive years. He could not compete on an international level as South Africa then was banned from international competition due to its practice of Apartheid.
N'dou made his professional debut in 1993 against Enoch Khuzwayo in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, South Africa winning on a points decision.
In his 13th professional fight in August 1995, Ndou fought for the South African Super Featherweight Title against Mthobeli Mhlophe with the contest ending in a draw. After that bout Ndou left South Africa and migrated to settle in Australia beginning a run of 17 consecutive victories from May 1996 to June 2000 rising to a world WBC
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
#2 ranking, before a loss in a 10 round unanimous points decision against former WBC International champion Guillermo Mosquera.
After the loss to Mosquera, Ndou lost motivation and fought rarely with only 3 fights in 2 years before heading to the United States for 3 fights during 2002 culminating in 2 losses.
Ndou won his first major professional title on 29 November 2002 defeating Sarit Saeknaew by TKO to claim the IBF Pan Pacific Light Welterweight Title at Festival Hall
Festival Hall, Melbourne
Festival Hall is a concert and sporting venue, located at 300 Dudley Street, West Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is one of Melbourne's larger concert venues and has hosted a variety of local and international acts over many years....
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. During 2003, Ndou made three successful defences of his IBF Pan Pacific Light Welterweight Title before an IBF World Light Welterweight Title bout against Sharmba Mitchell
Sharmba Mitchell
Sharmba David Mitchell , known professionally as Sharmba Mitchell, is a boxer who was WBA light welterweight champion.Mitchell, nicknamed "Little Big Man", is a native of Takoma Park, Maryland, but a resident of Washington, D.C.....
on 7 February 2004 in Atlantic City, USA. Ndou lost the bout against Mitchell via a unanimous points decision.
Following the loss to Mitchell, Ndou returned to Australia to defend his IBF Pan Pacific Light Welterweight Title twice before heading to Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, USA to fight Miguel Angel Cotto for the WBC International Light Welterweight Title and WBA Fedelatin Light Welterweight Title on 8 May 2004 with Ndou again losing via a unanimous points decision. Ndou closed out 2004 retaining his IBF Pan Pacific Light Welterweight Title against Ruben Francisco Silva Diaz in Sydney.
Ndou began 2005 with a 12 rounds unanimous points loss to Junior Witter
Junior Witter
Junior Witter is a professional boxer from Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. He is the former WBC, European, British, and Commonwealth light welterweight champion.-Early professional career:...
at the Staples Center
Staples Center
Staples Center is a multi-purpose sports arena in Downtown Los Angeles. Adjacent to the L.A. Live development, it is located next to the Los Angeles Convention Center complex along Figueroa Street. Opening on October 17, 1999, it is one of the major sporting facilities in the Greater Los Angeles...
, Los Angeles, USA for the Commonwealth Light Welterweight Title. Over the next 18 months following the loss to Witter, Ndou defended his IBF Pan Pacific Light Welterweight Title on four occasions to rise to the world IBF #1 Light Welterweight ranking at the start of 2007.
On 4 February 2007 in Sydney, Ndou fought in the Australian Fight of the Year and defeated Naoufel Ben Rabah
Naoufel Ben Rabah
Naoufel Ben Rabah is an Tunisian light-welterweight boxer.Born in Tunisia, Ben Rabah represented his native country at the 2000 Summer Olympics. There he was eliminated in the first round of the competition. Later he became a pro and currently boxes out of Germany. On June 30, 2006 he lost a...
in an IBF World Light Welterweight Title Eliminator for the right to meet current title holder Ricky Hatton
Ricky Hatton
Richard John Hatton MBE, more commonly known as Ricky "the Hitman" Hatton, , is a former British professional boxer, and currently a promoter....
, after Hatton had won the title against Juan Urango
Juan Urango
Juan "Iron Twin" Urango is a professional boxer in the junior welterweight division.-Pro Career:...
in Las Vegas, USA two weeks earlier. Hatton however refused the IBF's demand that he fight Ndou for the IBF World Light Welterweight Title, instead scheduling a fight against José Luis Castillo
José Luis Castillo
José Luis Castillo is a Mexican boxer. Nicknamed El Temible, Castillo is considered one the best lightweights of his era. He is the former The Ring and two-time WBC Lightweight champion....
. Following Hatton's decision, the IBF stripped Hatton of the IBF World Light Welterweight Title, awarding Ndou the title on 12 February 2007. Ndou lost his first title defense on 16 June 2007 against American Paul Malignaggi
Paul Malignaggi
Paul "Paulie" Malignaggi is an Italian-American professional boxer. He is the former IBF junior welterweight champion, and former WBO NABO light welterweight champion.-Light Welterweight:...
in Uncasville, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, USA.
After that bout N'dou stayed in America and worked as the main sparring partner for Floyd Mayweather for his bout against Ricky Hatton
Ricky Hatton
Richard John Hatton MBE, more commonly known as Ricky "the Hitman" Hatton, , is a former British professional boxer, and currently a promoter....
. While waiting to fight Malignaggi again he knocked out Rafael Ortiz in the 7th round as a stay busy fight. On 24 May 2008, Lovemore got his rematch against Malignaggi. The bout was fought as the main supporting bout to the Ricky Hatton
Ricky Hatton
Richard John Hatton MBE, more commonly known as Ricky "the Hitman" Hatton, , is a former British professional boxer, and currently a promoter....
VS Juan Lazcano
Juan Lazcano
Juan Lazcano is a Mexican American professional boxer from El Paso, Texas, who is now based in Sacramento, California, USA....
bout at the City of Manchester Stadium
City of Manchester Stadium
The City of Manchester Stadium in Manchester, England – also known as the Etihad Stadium for sponsorship purposes– is the home ground of...
in Manchester, United Kingdom. The bout was a much different one from their first encounter, with Malignaggi taking the lead a lot more and N'dou playing the role of counter-puncher. CompuBox Punchstats showed that N'dou landed 23% of his punches, while Malignaggi connected with 17%. In the end the Malignaggi again won the bout, this time by a close split decision
Split decision
A split decision is a winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts and others sports involving striking in which two of the three judges score for the same fighter as the winner, while the third judge scores for the other...
.