Ayanda Ndulani

Ndulani made his professional debut against Vuyani Swartbooi on June 27, 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.[3]

Ndulani was scheduled to challenge the reigning IBO minimumweight champion Nkosinathi Joyi on May 21, 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 September 28, 2019, while Joyi's last fight took place on December 16, 2019.[4] The incumbent champion was regarded as the favorite to regain the title, while Ndulani came in as a moderate underdog and was dubbed a darkhorse versus Joyi.[5] Joyi weighed in at 48.10kg, which was almost 500g above the 47.63kg limit. Accordingly, he was stripped of the title, leaving Ndulani as the only one eligible to capture the now vacant belt.[6] 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.[7]

Ndulani is scheduled to make his maiden IBO minimumweight title defense against the former WBO Global and African minimumweight champion Siphamandla Baleni. The bout is scheduled to take place on November 26, 2021, at a venue and location yet to be determined.[8] 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.[9]