Retired former IBF junior welterweight and IBO welterweight boxing champion and now practicing lawyer Lovemore “Black Panther”Ndou and his brother Ruddock have been appointed to the board of the Australia-based World Boxing Foundation (WBF).
Ndou – who has his own law firm in Australia, his adopted home – will serve as an attorney for the WBF, whose president is Mick Croucher.
Based in Polokwane, Ruddock – an outstanding amateur boxer -will be WBF fight commissioner in Africa.
“Yes, it’s true that I have been appointed as the attorney for the WBF,” confirmed Ndou yesterday. “My younger brother- who retired with seven fights and worked with me as a mentor and assistant trainer – will be heavily involved with the WBF.
“He and I are currently planning to build a boxing gymin the Limpopo area in honour of a great man, William Madzivhandila, a formerboxing promoter who helped us throughout our amateur careers.”
Ruddock worked in Lovemore’s corner during most of his worldtitle fights including the WBC Silver junior middleweight bout which Ndou lost to Saul Canelo Alvarez in Mexico.
“We will help secure WBF world title fights for South African fighters,” said Ndou, who is now also pursuing a PhD in Law.
“I also intend to pursue a political career in my country of birth in the future,” said Ndou who was born in Musina.
His last fight in South Africa was in 2010 when he outpointed former top amateur Bongani Mwelase over 12 round to register the second defence of his IBO belt.
Ndou, now 47, retired after capturing the WBF and IBF PanPacific belts against Gary St. Clair.
The last time the WBF was involved in local boxing was in 2007 when Oscar Chauke won its junior featherweight belt after defeating Wonga Mhlana in Potchefstroom.
–sowetanlive.co.za
