The date for Xolisani ‘Nomeva’ Ndongeni’s much anticipated Farewell Fight has been set for Saturday, 21 March 2026 by the Boxing Promotions company, Ground Up. The event themed: “The Last Sting of the Wasp” – will deliver a powerful blend of sport, entertainment and legacy – marking Ndongeni’s final bow in the professional ring.
Promoter, Loyiso Magqaza said the date change was necessitated by a need to accommodate the broadcasters and sponsors for the event. The fight is expected to be a sold-out affair in East London. The venue will be confirmed in due course as negotiations are at an advanced stage.
Magqaza of Ground Up Promotions said: “We have not seen this level of excitement for our boxing event in East London. We are excited to confirm the date – 21 March is historic in many ways in South Africa. And it makes sense that Nomeva will have his farewell match on this day. I know people are looking forward to us announcing his opponent, the venue and also ticketing sales. We will keep this suspense a little bit.”
He added: “It was important for our company to host such an event because we feel that Nomeva Ndongeni’s retirement bout represents more than a sporting contest. This legacy event will provide an opportunity to celebrate Eastern Cape’s excellence, while simultaneously creating platforms for skills transfer, youth inspiration and an opportunity to showcase our strategic partnerships with some of South Africa’s most prominent brands.”
With a full day of amateur and professional bouts, celebrity appearances and premium hospitality experiences – the event promises to be one of the most memorable sporting spectacles of the year. This event provides an opportunity to showcase the country’s local talent in a sport that is also accessible to aspirant boxers from previously disadvantaged communities.
More than a boxing showcase, the event is a multi-day community upliftment and sports tourism programme designed to leave a lasting social and economic impact in the Buffalo City Metro and the Eastern Cape as a whole. The event strategically combines youth development, education, amateur and professional boxing, skills transfer and premium hospitality. Beyond the action inside the ring the event is expected to attract celebrities, respected figures from the boxing fraternity and key industry stakeholders – adding cultural significance and entertainment value to the occasion.
Importantly, the day’s programme will feature an amateur boxing showcase in the morning, followed by a professional tournament that builds towards prime-time action. Sporting enthusiasts can expect a thrilling sequence of bouts across multiple divisions, including male cruiserweight, male welterweight, male mini flyweight, female bantamweight, female lightweight and male junior flyweight contests.
As the programme transitions into the professional ranks fans can expect a dynamic line-up of bouts spread across multiple weight divisions including female and male contests. Throughout the afternoon, competitive match-ups blend rising with seasoned campaigners, building atmosphere and momentum as the stakes climb higher. Importantly, at the heart of “The Last Sting of the Wasp” event lies Ground Up’s corporate social investment initiatives that highlight its commitment to giving back.
