World ranked lightweight contender Xolisani Ndongeni (21-0, 11 KOs) and top-tier featherweight prospect Ruben Villa (2-0, 2 KOs) highlight the Nov. 4 ShoBox undercard from the Omega Products Event Center in Corona, Calif.
Ndongeni, ranked number two by the WBA, will make his U.S. debut against Juan Garcia Mendez (19-1-1, 12 KOs) of Mexicali, Mex. in a fight scheduled for 10-rounds. Ndongeni, a native of South Africa, has won numerous regional titles. He will find himself in unfamiliar territory on Nov. 4, as he has fought all of his professional fights in his home country.
Villa, a southpaw with a terrific amateur pedigree, will fight fellow youngster Aaron Lopez (4-0, 2 KOs) of Mexico in a 4-round fight. Villa, who hails from the Northern California farming town of Salinas, has started his professional career in electrifying fashion. He came out of the gate with back-to-back first round knockout wins in July and September.
“I don’t approach any fight with the idea that I have to win by knockout,” said Villa, who turned professional after an elite amateur background that saw him win consecutive National Golden Gloves Championships. “I just stay focused on the game plan and try to make my opponent uncomfortable.”
Villa is co-promoted by Thompson Boxing and Banner Promotions.
Also on the undercard, bantamweights Danny Andujo (2-0, 1 KO) of Temecula, Calif. and Saul Sanchez (1-0, 1 KO) of Indio, Calif. battle in a bout set for 6-rounds.
The show opener consists of junior welterweight Jerry Larios of Los Angeles making his professional debut against an opponent to be named later (4-rounds).
TV FIGHTS
Undefeated 2012 Olympic Bronze Medalist Taras “Real Deal” Shelestyuk (14-0, 9 KOs) will face upset-minded Jaime Herrera in the 10-round welterweight main event of a ShoBox: The New Generation tripleheader on Friday, Nov. 4, live on SHOWTIME at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) from Omega Products International Event Center in Corona, Calif.
In the co-feature, undefeated cruiserweights Constantin Bejenaru (11-0, 4 KOs, 0-1-1 in World Series of Boxing), of Catskill, N.Y. by way of Moldova, and Stivens “Superman” Bujaj (16-0-1, 11 KOs), of New York, will collide in a 10-rounder for the vacant WBC International and WBC Continental Americas titles.
In the opening bout of the telecast, undefeated lightweight Vitor Jones Freitas (12-0, 1 ND, 6 KOs), of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, will be opposed by local fan favorite Manuel Mendez (12-1-2, 8 KOs), of Indio, Calif., in an eight-round bout. The 23-year-old Freitas is the nephew of popular former two-time lightweight world champion Acelino “Popo” Freitas.
