(Sydney, Australia: 19th July 2009) – Lovemore “Black Panther” Ndou once again proved he is competitive against any boxer in the world by winning the IBO welterweight boxing world title at the Emperor’s Palace in Kempton Park, South Africa on July 11. 37 year-old Ndou 47-11-1 (31 KO’s), a former IBF super lightweight world champion, beat fellow South African born boxer Phillip “Time Bomb” Ndou by unanimous twelve round points decision to win the vacant IBO belt. Born in Transvaal on August 16, 1971, it was Ndou’s first fight in South Africa since August 12, 1995..
“The most important thing about the fight was the reception I got in South Africa,” said Ndou. “It felt good to go back to my country and feel so welcome. There was a busload of people who came from my home town to the fight, even the Mayor, to support me. I couldn’t believe some of the banners they were carrying. One said, ‘Welcome Home King Lovemore’. It was something else. I want to thank my promoter Rodney Berman, who made it all possible. Rodney and his team proved that I am still a big drawcard in South Africa.”
Ndou, who lives in Sydney, has now issued a challenge to current IBO middleweight world champion Anthony Mundine for an Australian super fight.
“I want to fight Mundine,” said Ndou. “I will fight him at middleweight. He has the IBO world title and I have the IBO world title. Let’s do it. I am happy to go up two weight classes to middleweight and fight him. I am very serious about this.”
Ndou is not concerned that he would be fighting a much taller and bigger boxer.
“I know I can do it,” he said. “Mundine calls himself the ‘Black Superman’. Well, this ‘Black Panther’ is going to tear him up!”