As a professional, Ndukwu was undefeated until he fought Wilfredo Gomez at the Puerto Rican's hometown of San Juan. The World Boxing Council wanted to design this a world featherweight championship eliminator fight but they were dissuaded once Gomez was not able to make the Featherweight division's limit, so the fight was fought without their sanctioning. On Sunday, April 4, 1980, Ndukwu lost to the International Boxing Hall of Fame member by a fourth-round technical knockout at San Juan's Hiram Bithorn Stadium.[3]