Lovemore Ndou, 38-6-1 (24 KO’s), will square off against heavily-hyped Puerto Rican prospect Miguel Cotto, 19-0 (16 KO’s), on the undercard of the highly anticipated featherweight showdown between consensus featherweight king Manny Pacquaio and IBF/WBA champ Juan Manuel Marquez on May 8 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas. The card will be televised on HBO World Championship Boxing.
"This is going to be a top fight," enthused and ecstatic Ndou. I can't underestimate this kid. He's a very strong up and coming boxer. I'm fighting him in America on his promoter's promotion, so I expect the same thing as what happened when I fought Sharmba Mitchell. All I've got to do is make sure I win. I can’t afford to have any close rounds because they won't give me the decision."
Ndou, who has been calling out every top ranked junior welterweight for months now, will be standing in for renowned spoiler Juan "El Pollo" Valenzuela who was forced to withdraw after suffering a detached retina.
"Everyone that saw my fight with Sharmba Mitchell knows that Lovemore Ndou is the man of the 140 pound division," explained Ndou. "If they need a good fight, I'm the guy they've got to fight. And for HBO to give me that opportunity, it means a lot to me and I really appreciate that. I'm going to go out there and do my thing and hopefully I'll end up with a big contract from HBO," said Ndou.
Ndou's manager Stuart Duncan added: "HBO wanted a good fight for Cotto when his opponent pulled out. We're thankful to both HBO and Dan Goossen for making this fight a reality and also to Miguel Cotto for stepping up and taking this fight."
Ndou has already proven his willingness to take big bouts on short notice. In February of this year he gave Sharmba Mitchell the fight of his life when he stepped in on ten days notice to replace the injured Kostya Tszyu. Earlier this month Ndou was prepared to fly to England on five days notice to battle Ricky Hatton when Kelson Pinto withdrew from the bout. Compared to this, two-and-a-half weeks notice must seem like a luxury.
"Yeah, it's good," admitted Ndou. "I just had a fight last Friday which I won easily, and I'm getting a lot of notice for this fight. There'll be proper training facilities this time so there'll be no excuses. People are going to see best of Lovemore Ndou."
For the Mitchell fight Ndou was unable to secure a gym and was forced to put the finishing touches on his preparation in his hotel room. The Australian based South African doesn't anticipate the same problem arising this time but if it did, he would be more than ready.
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"Nah man, but if I had to I would," said Ndou with conviction. "If I have to train in the street, I'll do it. If I have to train in the park, I'll do it. If I have to train in Miguel Cotto's back yard, I'll do it."
The fight is scheduled for 12 rounds with Cotto's WBC International Super Lightweight Championship on the line. With Cotto ranked in the top five by all four of the major sanctioning bodies, a win for Ndou would catapult him to the top of the rankings. Ndou is confident not only of winning the bout, but doing so in spectacular fashion.
"I'll knock him out, there's no doubt about it," said Ndou. "He's nowhere near my class. I'm a world class fighter and I'm going to give him a boxing lesson, that's what I'm going to do. I'm not underestimating the kid. He's one of the hungriest fighters I've ever seen, he's got a lot of potential but, like I said, he's not in my class. I'll knock him out, simple as that."
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© Copyrights / All Rights reserved: Doghouse Boxing 1998-2004
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By Anthony Cocks (April 26, 2004) 
