By Monwabisi Jimlongo
Rumble Africa Promotions (RAP) chairman Teris Ntutu has called on boxing lovers to relax and not worry about Sivenathi ‘Special One’ Nontshinga and Luyanda ‘Prettyboy’ Ntwanambe.
Some boxing fans believe that it’s still too early for Nontshinga to campaign internationally as he is going to face Filipino boxer Christian ‘The Bomb’ Araneta at the Boardwalk Hotel and Casino in Gqeberha on Saturday, 24 April. Nontshinga and Araneta face off in an International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior-flyweight elimination bout.
On the hand, Ntwanambe faces old horse Jackson Chauke in a fight for the South African and vacant World Boxing Global flyweight titles. And there are boxing followers who insist that both Nontshinga and Ntwanambe have bitten more than they will be able to chew.
“We are excited as Rumble Africa Promotions. Remember, this is our second eliminator we are staging,” Ntutu said referring to the first eliminator RAP staged in 2019 where Azinga ‘Golden Boy’ Fuzile was stopped by Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov from Tajikistan.
“We think it’s time to throw them into the deep end. It’s rather they swim or sink. But if they sink it is as well our responsibility as a promotion to support them. These are high risk fights and we think they are necessary. We have a plan for both Nontshinga and Ntwanambe. People should not worry because we have this under control.
“Look at Zolani Tete’s attempt to win a world title. He was still in his early 20s when he was stopped by Moruti Mthalane. No one thought Tete would come back stronger. Look at Tete’s achievements since his loss to Mthalane.”
Ntutu added that losing a fight does not mean it’s the end of a boxer’s career. He made an example of Fuzile, who is now going to fight in an IBF junior-lightweight elimination bout against Martin Ward from the United Kingdom.
Meanwhile, Cape Town-based ring official Deon Dwarte is going to be the referee during the Nontshinga-Araneta duel.
Stutterheim-born Clifford Mbelu, Mexican Alexandro Lopez and Jean-Pierre van Imschoot from Belgium are going to judge the fight.
