Ndou Eyes Spadafora´s IBF Lightweight Belt After Quinones Fight Nov 3
By Tony Nobbs
28.10 - The entertaining Lovemore "Panther" Ndou (31-4-1,19 KO) steps into the ring for the third time on November 3 when he faces Californian Steve "Mongoose" Quinones (28-6-1, 11 KO) in a crucial ten rounder on the undercard of Montell Griffin-George Khalid Jones on Fox Sport Net Sunday Night Fights telecast from the Table Mountain Casino in Friant, Cal. A win over Quinones is critical for the 31 year old South African born Ndou as he has an IBF Pan Pacific Lightweight Title fight set for December 3 in Melbourne against Dindo Castenares from the Philippines, with victories over Quinones and Castaneres hopefully getting him into a position to challenge IBF Champion Paul Spadafora early next year.
However, even though he has his eyes on a long overdue Title shot, Ndou, who was rated as high as # 6 by the IBF and # 3 by the WBC a few years back is not taking his next opponent lightly. In 31 year old Quinones' last outing he defeated Jose Luis Juarez, who scored two knockdowns and outpointed a ring rusty Ndou in a memorable televised war in San Jacinto,Cal in April. The Juarez fight was Ndou's U.S debut and his first in 14 months.
"I have been able to get hold of four of his fights on tape including his his last fight with Juarez and he is a tough and credible opponent. He is a gutsy southpaw who has been in the ring with the likes of Ward, Castillo, Corrales and Juarez which is enough to earn him the respect of any opponent he encounters" said Ndou through his Australian manager Stuart Duncan before flying out on Thursday.
"Joe and Dan Goosen have some sparring lined up for next week in final preparation. I have ben sparing many a local boxer, however i have been working closely with Julian Holland and Sam Soliman in Melbourne in the lead up to this fight. My management flew in Matt Shaw, an impressive southpaw from Queensland for a week and he was good to practice my moves on".
The awkward switch hitter Soliman, rated # 12 by the IBF at Middleweight and the rangy Welterweight prospect Shaw will be of great use if-when a Spadafora fight, something Ndou has been chasing for over three years, comes off. "Spadafora is who I'd like to fight for a World Title and that is the direction i am heading in. I am better prepared both physically and mentally than ever I have been been. I have one thing in mind and that is Spadafora. Nothing will stop me from getting to him". Ndou was last in action in May when he scored an impressive two round TKO over Filipino Jun Gorres in Hawaii.
