Thembani Gopheni plans to feast on a Christmas turkey while the International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior-flyweight belt is on display at his home.
Gopheni is planning to lead his son Sivenathi ‘Special One’ Nontshinga to glory when he challenges IBF junior-flyweight champion Nicaraguan Felix Alvarado in Texas, United States, on Saturday, 18 December (Sunday, 19 December, South African time).
“We have been working very hard. We will continue to work very hard until we meet Alvarado,” Gopheni remarked.
“It’s nice that we know the date and where the fight is gonna be held. We have always known that we will fight against Alvarado. We are not afraid of anything.”
The unbeaten Nontshinga, who turns 23 on 3 December, earned the right to challenge Alvarado after he outpointed Filipino boxer Christian ‘The Bomb’ Araneta in Gqeberha in April this year.
Meanwhile, the 32-year-old Alvarado stopped South African boxer DeeJay Kriel on January this year.
