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Hlatshwayo-Ndou shootout put on hold

THE proposed shoot-out between Isaac "The Angel" Hlatshwayo and Lovemore "Black Panther" Ndou will not happen for now. These two fighters from Limpopo hold the IBF and IBO welterweight belts respectively. Their fight would have been the first unification bout in SA.

THE proposed shoot-out between Isaac "The Angel" Hlatshwayo and Lovemore "Black Panther" Ndou will not happen for now. These two fighters from Limpopo hold the IBF and IBO welterweight belts respectively. Their fight would have been the first unification bout in SA.

Trainer Nick Durandt is keen to feature Hlatshwayo in the fight.

Durandt promised to accommodate Ndou before Hlatshwayo defeated American Delvin Rodriguez in the US on Sunday.

Hlatshwayo has never avoided an opponent. In 2006 he outpointed the feared Nate Campbell in the "Galaxy Warrior's" backyard.

Promoter Rodney Berman has other plans for Ndou. Berman acknowledged the greatness of the enterprising local shootout, but said their priority right now was for Ndou to defend against Englishman Matthew Hatton in October.

"I am knocking Isaac but I want more international exposure for Lovemore. I am very happy for Isaac's achievement," said Berman, who promoted Hlatshwayo from 2006 until the latter joined Branco Milenkovic early this year.

Berman presented the IBO fight that Lovemore won on points against Phillip "Time Bomb" Ndou on July 11 at Emperors Palace. That was Lovemore's first fight here since he lost against Mthobeli Mhlophe for the national junior lightweight title.

Speaking to Sowetan from New South Wales in Australia yesterday, he said: "It's good to see someone travel abroad, especially to America, and get a win. I'm sure Isaac did a lot better than the scorecards read. Let's see if Nick will keep his word for a unification fight.

"The good thing about our fight, apart from the making of history, is that whether I win or Isaac does, SA will have a unified world champ. It does not get any bigger than that."

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