Ayanda Ndulani


Ayanda Ndulani is a South African professional boxer who has held the IBO minimumweight title since 2021.

Professional boxing career

Early career

Ndulani made his professional debut against Vuyani Swartbooi on 27 June 2015. He won the fight by a fourth-round technical knockout. He amassed a 10–2–1 record during the next four years, before making his first world title challenge.

IBO minimumweight champion

Ndulani vs. Joyi

Ndulani was scheduled to challenge the reigning IBO minimumweight champion Nkosinathi Joyi on 21 May 2021, at the International Convention Centre in East London, Eastern Cape. Both fighters came into the bout after a two year absence from the sport, with Ndulani's last fight taking place on 28 September 2019, while Joyi's last fight took place on 16 December 2019. The incumbent champion was regarded as the favorite to retain the title, while Ndulani came in as a moderate underdog and was dubbed a dark horse. Joyi weighed in at 48.10 kg at the official weigh-ins, which was almost 500g above the 47.63 kg limit. Accordingly, he was stripped of the title, leaving Ndulani as the only one eligible to capture the now vacant belt. Ndulani won the fight by a fourth-round knockout. The visibly drained Joyi was knocked down twice in the second round, although he was able to beat the eight count both times. The former champion was once again floored at the 1:31 minute mark of the fourth round, after which the referee decided to stop the fight.

The Baleni trilogy

Ndulani was booked to make his maiden IBO minimumweight title defense against the former WBO Global and African minimumweight champion Siphamandla Baleni. The bout took place on 26 November 2021, at the International Convention Centre in East London, South Africa. Ndulani won the rematch by split decision, with two judges awarding him a 117–111 and 116–112 scorecards respectively, while the third judge scored it 118–114 for Baleni. Baleni later contested the result of the decision with the IBO, who ruled against him on 18 May 2022, confirming Ndulani as their minimumweight champion.
Despite the IBO ruling, Ndulani chose to give Siphamandla Baleni a second chance at the title. The rematch was one of five titles bouts which were scheduled as part of the annual boxing celebration of former president Nelson Mandela, and was expected to take place on 3 August 2022, at the same venue in which their first bout transpired. On 27 July, Xaba Promotions announced that the bout was postponed due to budgetary constraints, and would be rescheduled for 4 September. Ndulani won the fight by split decision, the same as in their previous encounter.

Ndulani vs. Soto

On 9 November 2022, during the annual WBC convention, the sanctioning body formally ordered a mini-flyweight title eliminator between Ndulani and Luis Castillo Soto. The fight was expected to take place on 25 February 2023, at the ICC Durban in Durban, South Africa on the undercard of the Michael Mendoza and Landi Ngxeke super flyweight bout, but was postponed as Ngxeke came down with bronchitis. The bout was rescheduled to take place on 31 March 2023, but was removed from the event entirely days before it was supposed to take place, as Ndulani refused to continue his preparations at the event promoter's Xaba Boxing Academy, choosing instead to stay at the Masenze Boxing Club. The title eliminator was rescheduled to take place on 19 May 2023, in Cancun, Mexico. He lost the fight by a fourth-round knockout.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
17LossLuis Castillo SotoKO4 19 May 2023Cancun, Mexico
16Win13–2–1Siphamandla BaleniSD124 Sep 2022International Convention Centre, East London, Eastern Cape, South AfricaRetained IBO minimumweight title
15Win12–2–1Siphamandla BaleniSD1227 Nov 2021International Convention Centre, East London, Eastern Cape, South AfricaRetained IBO minimumweight title
14Win11–2–1Nkosinathi JoyiKO4, 1:3121 May 2021International Convention Centre, East London, Eastern Cape, South AfricaWon vacant IBO minimumweight title
13Win10–2–1Loyiso NgantweniUD1028 Sep 2019International Convention Centre, East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa
12Loss9–2–1Siphamandla BaleniUD1216 Jun 2019Indoor Sports Centre, Mdantsane, South AfricaFor vacant WBO Africa Minimumweight title
11Win9–1–1Xolisa MagushaUD1229 Jul 2018Orient Theatre, East London, Eastern Cape, South AfricaWon vacant African Boxing Union Minimum Title.
10Win8–1–1Khanyiso SikoPTS1029 Apr 2018Indoor Sports Centre, Mdantsane, South AfricaWon vacant Eastern Cape mini flyweight title.
9Win7–1–1Daluxolo MangcotywaPTS410 Dec 2017Orient Theatre, East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa
8Win6–1–1Thandolwethu HlanganiTKO3, 1:0330 Jul 2017Orient Theatre, East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa
7Loss5–1–1Xolisa MagushaTKO3, 1:4620 Nov 2016Orient Theatre, East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa
6Win5–0–1Ndikho MagadazaTKO12, 1:3923 Sep 2016OR Tambo Hall, Mthatha, South AfricaWon WBF African Minimum Title.
5Draw4–0–1Deejay KrielSD624 Apr 2016Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, Gauteng, South Africa
4Win4–0Malibongwe MashalabaPTS429 Nov 2015Indoor Sports Centre, Mdantsane, South Africa
3Win3–0Yanga SigqiboPTS42 Oct 2015Mdantsane Indoor Centre, Mdantsane, South Africa
2Win2–0Anele KomanaPTS429 Aug 2015Chris Nissen Primary School, Knysna, South Africa
1Win1–0Vuyani SwartbooiTKO4, 2:4427 Jun 2015Titi Jonas Multi-Purpose Community Centre, Port Alfred, South Africa