December 22, 2024

Devin Haney headlines Jan. 11 edition of ShoBox

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 09: Devin Haney celebrates his victory over Rafael Vazquez in their super featherweight fight on April 9, 2016 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The top lightweight prospect returns against an unbeaten opponent.

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

20-year-old Devin Haney will return to Showtime airwaves on Friday, Jan. 11, when the unbeaten lightweight prospect will face Xolisani Ndongeni at StageWorks in Shreveport, Louisiana in a ShoBox main event.

Haney (20-0, 13 KO) went 2-0 in 2018, scoring a pair of solid wins over veterans Mason Menard and Juan Carlos Burgos in May and September.

Ndongeni (25-0, 13 KO) is a 28-year-old fighter from South Africa who also fought and won twice in 2018. He has fought in the U.S. once before, beating Juan Garcia Mendez in Nov. 2016 on a ShoBox event.

“I’m looking to start off 2019 with another great performance on Showtime,” said Haney. “I’ll be facing a very dangerous undefeated fighter in Xolisani Ndongeni, who has been ranked as high as No. 3 in WBA and has never experienced defeat. He’s not just coming to fight, Ndongeni thinks he can win. These are the fights I need. I’m going to show the world once again that I’m not a prospect, I’m an elite fighter, and I deserve a world title shot.”

“Devin Haney is a great young boxer and I think it will be a good test for the both of us,” Ndongeni said. “I have the edge in experience. I have been in 12-round title fights and I feel I am more than capable of handling anything he brings to the ring. A win against Haney will take me back to the top of the rankings and open doors for me to be able to fight many more times in the U.S.”

The show will also feature a matchup between a pair of unbeaten featherweights, California’s Ruben Villa (14-0, 5 KO) and Carlos Vidal (14-0, 13 KO) of Puerto Rico.

“My team and I are really grateful and excited to finally be able to showcase my talents on a national platform and we will not take this opportunity for granted,” Villa said. “I’ve been working overtime to look perfect for this event. I’m coming to put on a show and prove I’m ready for the bright lights.”

“I’m very grateful for the opportunity to prove myself against another undefeated fighter,” Vidal said. “I live in the gym and have dedicated my life to this dream of being a world champion. This is just the first step of that process and nothing is going stop me from achieving that goal.”

Cuban heavyweight Frank Sanchez Faure (10-0, 8 KO) is also scheduled to see action, against an opponent to be named.

“Growing up in Cuba, I’ve always dreamed of having this opportunity to fight on television in America, and now that dream is becoming a reality,” Faure said. “I’m going to punish my opponent and give the fans a reason to watch me every time I step in the ring. I’m the next Cuban sensation.”

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