By Ian S Palmer
Original article: https://www.sportsbetlistings.com/boxing/xolisani-ndongeni-vs-arnold-barboza-jr-betting-odds-and-prediction/22594/
Unbeaten Arnold Barboza Jr of Long Beach, California takes on Xolisani Ndongeni of South Africa in a 10-round super lightweight tilt this Saturday, January 6th. The fight from Las Vegas, Nevada, can be seen live in most nations on DAZN. Barboza last boxed in February when he edged former world champion Jose Pedraza by a 10-round unanimous decision to defend the WBO Inter-Continental Super Lightweight Belt. He had won the vacant title seven months earlier with a 10-round unanimous decision over Danieleto Zorrilla. Meanwhile, Ndongeni dropped a wide 10-round unanimous decision to Ernesto Mercado in his last outing in July.
The 32-year-old Barboza climbs into the ring with a perfect mark of 28-0 with 10 Ko’s. He’s boxed 170 rounds since making his pro debut in 2013 following a brief amateur career. He measures 5-feet-9-inches tall with a 72-inch and when it comes to power, Barboza is below average with a current knockout ratio of just 35.7 per cent and has gone the distance in his last five fights after stopping four of his previous five opponents.
Since turning pro Barboza has won the vacant WBO International and NABF Jr Super Lightweight Titles. He’s beaten Mike Alvarado, Tony Luis, William Silva and Antonio Moran along the way but is probably best known for his slugfest against Alex Saucedo in October, 2020 when he was dropped in the seventh round but came back to win a 10-round unanimous decision to win the vacant WBO International Super Lightweight Belt.
As for Ndongeni, the 33-year-old has 219 rounds of experience under his belt since making his pro debut in 2010 and makes the ring walk with a record of 31-3 with 18 Ko’s. He stands 5-feet-8-inches tall with a 69.5-inch reach which means he gives up an inch in height and 2.5-inches in reach to Barboza. As far as power goes, he’s not really known as a heavy hitter either as 58.1 per cent of his victories have come by stoppage. He’s 6-3 in his past nine fights but six of his last seven wins have come by knockout. Ndongeni has been stopped once as Prince Dlomo halted him in the sixth round in 2020.
His other losses came at the hands of Devin Haney by a wide 10-round unanimous decision in 2019 in a shot at the vacant WBO Inter-Continental, and WBC International Lightweight Titles and the 10-round unanimous decision to Ernesto Mercado in his last fight. As a pro. Ndongeni has won the South African, and WBF International Super Featherweight Titles as well as the South African, IBO World, WBF World, and IBO International Lightweight Titles and the African Super Lightweight Belt. His biggest wins have been against Juan Garcia Mendez, Mzonke Fana, Patrick Malinga and Apinun Khongsong.
Prediction…
Both boxers are solid pros but a lot more has probably been expected Barboza and he needs to win this fight impressively if he has any hope of landing a world title shot some day. This is decent matchup but Barboza is the naturally bigger man even though his power has gone missing in action lately. It should start out as a relatively close affair but I’ll give Barboza the edge here and a stoppage win would boost his confidence and marketability.
