Morgan Ndumo: Boxing Career and Notable Fights
Morgan Ndumo was a South African professional boxer who challenged Mexican champion Ricardo López for the WBC strawweight title.
Title fight with Ricardo López
The World Boxing Council’s historical account reports that López stopped Ndumo in the sixth round while defending his championship. BoxRec also lists the bout in Ndumo’s professional record.
Documented career
Ndumo, whose full name is listed as Morgan Bognai Ndumo, was a southpaw from Johannesburg with Soweto identified as his hometown. His professional record begins in October 1990 with a points victory over Ashley Stout in Johannesburg and continues into 2001.
Before the Lopez challenge, he recorded victories over Leo Dyakopu and Leonard Makhanya, defeating Makhanya twice in 1995. In November of that year, he beat Phindile Ngingi by split decision for the vacant WBC International minimumweight title. That regional championship preceded his opportunity to fight for the full world belt.
The Las Vegas championship opportunity
The Lopez bout took place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on November 9, 1996. Lopez retained his WBC championship with the sixth-round stoppage, adding another defense to his unbeaten record. Ndumo’s appearance was a world title challenge, distinct from the International belt he had previously won in South Africa.
Ndumo continued boxing after the defeat. His later results included victories over Job Tleru, Steve Msimanga and Mzimkhulu Funde in 1998, followed by an overseas appearance against Jose Antonio Lopez Bueno in Spain. The listed record closes with a points loss to Phathutshedzo Nemukongwe in Benoni in November 2001.
Further career results
Ndumo’s domestic results included two 1995 victories over Leonard Makhanya, the first by split decision in Tembisa and the second unanimously in Johannesburg. In 1998 he outpointed Job Tleru and Steve Msimanga, then stopped Mzimkhulu Funde at Johannesburg’s Nasrec Indoor Arena. He subsequently boxed in Spain, losing by knockout to José Antonio López Bueno in Oviedo in February 1999. These later appearances extend his chronology beyond the Ricardo López title challenge in Las Vegas.
Sources
- BoxerList: Morgan Ndumo’s career results
- WBC: Ricardo López vs. Morgan Ndumo
- BoxRec: Morgan Ndumo record
