His recent fight and victory against Sizwe Mthembu, on points over six rounds, at the Durban International Convention Centre, highlighted his immense potential.
This fight ensured his number one ranking in the bantamweight division in South Africa, and sets him up for a classic South African bantamweight title showdown with Toto Hlebe, on a date still to be decided.
The hard-hitting, no-nonsense talking Nombewu is trained at Brakpan’s Martial Arts Xtreme gym,by coach/trainer Jacques Giessing, and has his eyes firmly fixed on bringing the title home against Hlebe.
Nombewu who grew up in Geluksdal, Tsakane, started boxing at the age of 13 and fought in the amateur ranks for seven years before making the step-up to the professional leagues, in 2010.
Inspired by his father, who was an avid boxer and who passed away when he was a young age, the local boxer decided to pursue the sport that his father loved the most.
“I was a pretty boy and didn’t want to be touched, but I had to do it for my father and, eventually, it became a career for me,” he said.
“I also grew up in a rough place, so boxing became necessary for my self-defence.”
Speaking of his victory over Mthembu, in Durban, in a fight where he actually broke his opponent’s jaw, he commented: “It was a great fight.
“I was very prepared and ready for whatever he threw at me.”
Nombewu added that he won the fight on points for the first time in his professional career and that everyone was surprised by this.
“They thought that I am just a knockout specialist and couldn’t go through the rounds, but I proved them wrong,” he said.
“My coach and I are doing everything in my power to get me fit and ready for the title fight, and I am definitely going to bring back the title.”
In the long run he sees himself as an IBO, WBA and WBC world champion.
“I am 24 years old and ready to rock ‘n roll and rumble in the jungle – I’m not scared of any opponent,” he said.
“Even Brian Mitchell said in commentary that I am the most complete boxer in the world, and if the promoters cannot see this potential then they must be blind.”
Nombewu reserved special thanks for his sponsors for their support and advised up-coming boxers that dedication is the most important thing, as not everybody survives in the sport.
His coach, Giessing, said he sees huge potential in his fighter and can see him reaching the top and sitting alongside Floyd Mayweather.
