Naysayers who predicted that the fruitful career of Phillip Ndou was over following his loss to Ntuthuko Memela in February will be disappointed to learn that the "Time Bomb" returns to the ring next weekend.

Ndou, who used to thrill fans with crippling power that enabled him to stop 34 of his 37 victims, intends to redeem himself at the expense of Malawian Chimwemwe Chiotcha in a non-title bout at Thohoyandou Town Hall on July 30. "I don't want to sound like I am making excuses about Phillip's loss to Memela, but medically Phillip was not okay," Ndou's manager Promise Moyo said yesterday. "Phillip lost a lot of weight to make the limit for the junior welterweight division.

"I think the problem is that his age (39) and bone structure do not allow him to fight at smaller weight divisions. Ring physicians (Steven Saad and Stephen Selepe) were concerned about Phillip that they suggested he move up the weight division."

Ndou and Chiotcha's bout will be in the junior middleweight division.

"He has been working very hard in the gym in Venda where he is being assisted by trainer Mpho Khorombi."

Ndou's bout next week will be staged jointly by Mulenzhe World Sports Promotions, Vhembe district and Thulamela local municipalities, Mulenzhe Development Trust, Tshitshite Funeral Undertakers and Super Quick.

Limpopo provincial junior welterweight champion Norman "Volcano" Tshisikhawe and Humbulani Netshidamboni will headline the bill in a fight for the vacant WBF Africa belt. Tshisikhawe stopped Netshidamboni in the 10th round in Polokwane in October last year. There will be three more bouts and action begins at 6pm.