By Monwabisi Jimlongo
Buoyed by winning the IBF Fight of the Year award, which came as a result of his victory over Mexican boxer Hector Flores in Hermosillo, Mexico, last September, Sivenathi ‘Special One’ Nontshinga is eager to go on and defeat Regie Suganob from the Philippines when they clash later this month.
Nontshinga, the current IBF junior-flyweight champion, is set to defend his title when he collides with Suganob at the East London International Convention Centre (ICC) on Friday, 16 June.
“Firstly, I’m very happy to have won the IBF Fight of the Year award. That was a very difficult fight for me. I believe that without Colin Nathan, Rumble Africa Promotions, my dad (Thembani Gopheni) and Siyanda Zingelwa, it would have been impossible to win the fight. I believe that it was the right time for it to happen. I’m happy, I feel blessed and I will always be grateful for that,” Nontshinga remarked.
Nontshinga’s conquest in Mexico has resulted in him being nominated in the South African Boxing Awards’ Male Boxer of the Year category. He’s competing for the award against South African middleweight champion John Bopape and Phumelela Cafu, the World Boxing Association (WBA) Intercontinental junior-bantamweight titlist.
“I think I deserve my nomination for the Male Boxer of the Year award. I went to Mexico for my 11th fight and won a world title in a foreign country after we hadn’t had a champion from a credible organisation since Moruti Mthalane lost his IBF flyweight title to Sunny Edwards. I think I deserve to get the Male Boxer of the Year award,” Nontshinga said.
The fight against Suganob is going to be the 24-year-old Nontshinga’s first defence of the world title since he handed Flores his first career loss.
“This is a big one. They always say great things come to those who wait. I have been waiting for this opportunity. I think I’m at the right place at the right time. I’m no longer the same Sive I was three years ago. I’m going to defend my title in East London against Regie. I’m ready physically, spiritually and mentally,” Nontshinga concluded.
