15 years ago

Date: 4th February 2007

Venue: State Sports Centre, Homebush Bay, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Title: vacant IBF World Super-lightweight Title

Promoter: Grange Old School Boxing

Lovemore N’dou
( 44 - 8 - 1 )
Weight: 139 lbs

Naoufel Ben Rabah
( 24 - 2 - 0 )
Weight: 140 lbs

This fight was originally an IBF super-lightweight title eliminator, but when Ricky Hatton vacated the title to fight Jose Luis Castillo, N'dou was elevated to IBF champion. So Rabah (24-2-0), who had lost to Juan Urango for the vacant title in his last outing, found himself challenging another Australian based fighter at the State Sports Centre in Sydney, Australia, with the IBF world super-lightweight title at stake.

Due to the heat, this fight became a contest of both boxing and endurance. N'dou (44-8-1) was the aggressor in the first half of the 12 rounder but, Rabah was scoring while moving and boxing against his South African born opponent.

Going into the later stages of the fight it was apparent that Rabah was slowing down and at the end of the 11th round, he barely made it back to his stool due to the effects of exhaustion, prompting his corner to pull him out of the fight.

There was very little in it on the judge's scorecards after 11 rounds.

Scores: Charlie Lucas 105-104 | Ces Perkins 106-104 | Somsak Sirianant 105-104.

N'dou lost the title in his next defence against New York's Paulie Malignaggi.