The camp of world title hopeful Sivenathi ‘Special One’ Nontshinga is working on a plan to have him finally fight against International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior-flyweight champion Felix Alvarado.
This comes after the IBF scuppered Alvarado’s plan to defend against Mexican Erick Lopez in Tijuana, Mexico, on Saturday, 19 February. The IBF reminded the Nicaraguan about his mandatory defence obligation against Nontshinga.
Initially, Nontshinga was due to challenge Alvarado in Texas, United States, in December, but the fight didn’t take place owing to travel restrictions imposed by the Joe Biden regime at the time because of COVID-19 variant Omicron.
“We are in the process of trying to help where we can. I got mail from Golden Boy last week concerning this fight. They were asking whether the fight can’t be held in Africa or not,” Rumble Africa Promotions (RAP) international adviser Colin ‘Nomakanjani’ Nathan said.
RAP promotes the 23-year-old unbeaten Nontshinga, who earned the right to challenge Alvarado after he outpointed Filipino boxer Christian Araneta in Gqeberha last April.
“We are working, we are in discussion. They have been forced to face Nontshinga,” award-winning Nathan remarked.
Meanwhile, Nathan has revealed that Nontshinga is yet to join him at Hot Box Gym as per the recent agreement he had with the boxer’s father and trainer Thembani ‘Best’ Gopheni.
“I wanna figure and work out a date. I have spoken to both Best and Nomfesane (Nyatela, RAP chief executive officer) and we are on the same page. Firstly, I wanna sort out the business side before getting him ready. That’s kind of where we are now,” Nathan said