Devin Haney set to return in January
In 2018, Devin Haney successfully established himself as a must-watch prospect in the lightweight division. Additionally, in the eyes of many pundits, he is a fighter who represents the future of the sport.
As we near 2019, Haney is ready to make his move and establish himself further.
Devin Haney (20-0, 13 KOs)
The ambitious 20 year-old fighter will kick off his 2019 campaign as the season premiere headliner for ShoBox: The Next Generation.
He will face undefeated South African Xolisani Ndongeni at Stageworks in Shreveport, Louisiana on January 11. One of the sport’s more talented youth, Haney seemingly carries all the tools in his arsenal that a fighter wants.
He’s highly skilled with fast hands and feet and has some pop in his punches. He is also quite versatile as a fighter. He can fight both coming forward and backwards while employing a style that’s attention-grabbing.
Xolisani Ndongeni (25-0, 13 KOs)
A former IBO and current WBF titleholder, the 28 year-old from Eastern Cape, South Africa can fight. From what 3KingsBoxing has seen of Ndogeni, he is a guy who likes to establish the jab.
While he has shown the ability to fight coming forward, Ndogeni is much more comfortable and effective on the back foot; using his legs and head movement to avoid punches then counter.
He will not be awed by fighting in the U.S. as he fought in Carson, California in November 2016 (also on a ShoBox card), defeating Juan Garcia Mendez by ten round unanimous decision.
For Haney, Ngodeni represents a continued step up in competition, as well as another move towards what he hopes is a title fight. For Ngodeni, a fight with Haney represents a golden opportunity against a high-profile opponent many have pegged for super-stardom.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
