Renowned boxing referee, Sipho Ndongeni, from Nyanga, found himself at the threshold of a remarkable moment in his career as he touched down safely in the vibrant streets of Bangkok, Thailand, on Tuesday April 23.
Ndongeni hit two birds with one stone for the trip to the Fist of Glory – Five Championship event. He is the the referee for the supporting bout and the main bout, taking place this evening, Thursday April 25.
Ndongeni will officiate the World Boxing Federation’s (WBF) Women’s World Super Flyweight title fight, as well as the World International Boxing Federation’s (WIBF) world cruiserweight supporting bout.
The women’s bout is between Angelina Lukas, from Kazakhstan, and Mamta Singh, from India. The WIBF cruiserweight fight is between Taryel Jafarov, from Azerbaijan, and King Fahd, from Indonesia.
Just weeks prior, the boxing world erupted in applause as the WBF president, Howard Goldberg announced Ndongeni’s appointment via social media.
The news was celebrated not only by Ndongeni but by the entire boxing community that had witnessed his dedication and rise through the ranks of boxing refereeing.
As the sun set last Friday, April 19, Ndongeni was in action during a Jackie Brice Boxing Promotion’s special event, at Vibrant Sports in Ottery. As soon as he finished officiating the supporting bout there, his mind was ready and determined for the task ahead.
With each passing day, anticipation mounted for the headlining events where Ndongeni would play a pivotal role in ensuring fairness and integrity in the ring.
Touching down in Bangkok on a Tuesday after 18 hours on air and a two-hour stop-over in Dubai, Ndongeni’s arrival signalled the commencement of a momentous occasion.
The buzz surrounding the WBF Women’s World Super Flyweight title fight had already caused a buzz, with fans eagerly awaiting the clash of titans under his watchful eye.
The official said this assignment represents more than just a milestone in his career; it is a testimony to years of dedication, perseverance and the support of mentors and peers.
“I was very excited to receive news that I was assigned by WBF to go and do a WBF and WIBF world titles in Thailand. It’s the second time this year WBF assigned me for a title fight outside Africa. I was assigned to go judge and referee two fights in Reims, France, on February 24 but unfortunately the tournament didn’t take place and I knew I must just continue to work hard, something good is coming my way,” said Ndongeni.
Reflecting on his journey, Ndongeni expressed gratitude for the opportunities bestowed upon him and the legacy of those who had paved the way.
“It means a lot to me and I’m sure the late Mr Mickey Klaas is happy about my progress and is watching me from a distance. He is the one who promoted me to professional level in boxing. To go and referee a world title fight out of the African continent means a lot to me because it’s not easy to be assigned to officiate a world title, you have to have a lot of experience,” he said.
In a moment of introspection, Ndongeni shared some words of inspiration for aspiring officials, urging them to believe in themselves, as well as to remain steadfast in their pursuit of excellence. Drawing from his own experiences, he emphasised the importance of integrity, impartiality and a deep understanding of the sport.
“For the young and upcoming official, they mustn’t stop believing in themselves and they must learn from the senior officials how to officiate, how to take charge, how to be in control of the fight in that boxing ring.
“I remember at amateur level it happened that I judged a fight where my younger brother Sandile was fighting and I never said I’m judging my brother, but I said I’m judging a boxing match. It happened that all three of us judges had the same scorecard. The fight was a draw. That’s when I told myself that I am going far with boxing because I judge and referee boxers, not names, faces or where you coming from. I used to referee and judge the juniors and fight in the same bill while I was at amateur level in the early 90s. So to have that energy in the ring is not something new to me,” said Ngondeni.
As the countdown to the main event began, Ndongeni remained resolute in his commitment to uphold the values of boxing. With his sights set on the horizon, he dreams of officiating on the grandest stages, leaving a mark on the sport he loves.
“To be honest, I would be glad to win something in boxing as an official, just to see my name engraved in that award and with the hard work I know I will achieve that one day but if I retire without winning anything in boxing I will be disappointed. My biggest vision is to see myself officiating in one of the big events in the world, like the MGM in Las Vegas,” said Ndongeni.
