Hearing that East London promotional outfit Rumble Africa Promotions (RAP) is negotiating with the camp of reigning International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior-flyweight champion Felix Alvarado was more like sweet music to Thembani Gopheni’s ears.
Gopheni is the trainer and father of East London boxer Sivenathi ‘Special One’ Nontshinga, who is due to challenge Alvarado.
“It’s good news to us. We have been training because we knew we would receive such news,” Gopheni said.
The unbeaten 22-year-old Nontshinga earned the right to challenge Alvarado after he defeated Christian ‘The Bomb’ Araneta from the Philippines in Gqeberha in April this year.
Nontshinga’s win over Araneta earned him the number one rating in the IBF junior-flyweight division.
“We are happy that we are going to fight for the world title before the end of the year. Actually, we will go to the new year with Sive as a world champion. We are neither afraid nor overconfident,” Gopheni said.
Meanwhile, the 32-year-old Alvarado stopped Puerto Rican Israel Vazquez in the first round in a non-title fight last month.
Excellent