By Monwabisi Jimlongo
That Sivenathi ‘Special One’ Nontshinga’s fight against Christian ‘The Bomb’ Araneta from the Philippines is going to be held in South Africa is not sitting well with some Filipino boxing fans if their comments on Asian Fight Scene are anything to go by.
Apprehensive Filipinos believe that their compatriot is going to be robbed in South Africa.
Araneta is going to fight against Nontshinga in an International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior-flyweight elimination bout on Sunday, 25 April.
The winner of this bout is going to challenge IBF junior-flyweight champion Felix Alvarado from Nicaragua.
“That’s right, you won’t win there if you’re in points,” Jim Kidatan said.
Another Fiilipino Click Bill is clearly against the idea of Araneta fighting against Nontshinga on African soil.
“Just don’t play the fight in South Africa. It should be a neutral venue,” Bill said.
Kevin Ondus, on the other hand, has listed a number of things, which he believes would be hurdles in Araneta’s quest to beat Nontshinga.
“If fight happens in South Africa expect a home cooking show from thick padding gloves, weighing scale, false positive HIV result, unpaid fight purse, crooked referee and judges,” Ondus said.
Joven Aton Almanzor is frightened by Nontshinga’s unbeaten record. Nontshinga has stopped all his nine opponents while Araneta has won 15 of his 19 wins via stoppages against one loss.
“If the enemy’s record is good like that, don’t fight in their place. You’ll lose even if you’re in rounds but still you need to knock him out to prove that you deserve the title,” Almanzor said.
While Eliel Tom Tejones acknowledges Araneta’s ability as a boxer, he fears a home town decision more than anything else.
“Araneta is good. Aside from Thailand, Africa is one of those who are good at cooking,” Tejones said.
Meanwhile, Rumble Africa Promotions (RAP) chief executive officer Nomfesane Nyatela has allayed the Filipinos’ fears.
“This is an elimination bout. When it’s an elimination bout we get referees and judges from outside South Africa. We had the IBF president Daryl Peoples here in South Africa the last time we had an elimination bout. There is nothing to fear,” Nyatela said.
