By Monwabisi Jimlongo
Two-time International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior-flyweight champion Sivenathi ‘Special One’ Nontshinga’s return to South Africa has been delayed by just over 24 hours.
Initially, the newly-crowned world champion was scheduled to land at the OR International Airport in Kempton Park at 10h30 on Monday. However, the arrival time and day have changed to Tuesday at 10h55.
“Our local flight from Oaxaca to Mexico City got delayed, which means that we lost connections for our international flight. So, we’re spending a night at a Mexico City hotel and then we’re flying out tomorrow. We are getting in on Tuesday, not Monday,” Nontshinga’s trainer Colin ‘Nomakanjani’ Nathan revealed.
Nontshinga reclaimed the IBF junior-flyweight crown after he stopped Mexican boxer Adrian Curiel Dominguez in the 10th round at the Guelaguetza Auditorium in Oaxaca on Saturday morning (South African time).
It was sweet victory for the 25-year-old Nontshinga as he defeated his conqueror Dominguez, who dethroned him with a second round stoppage in Monaco in November last year.
Meanwhile, Saturday’s stoppage win did a whole world of good for Nontshinga as he was behind on points on two judges’ score cards.
Mexican judge Alejandro Lopez Cid had his compatriot Dominguez winning by 87-83 with Frenchman Vincent Dupas’ score card reading 86-84 for Dominguez and it was 85-85 on South African ring official Deon Dwarte’s score card by the time referee Mark Calo-oy from the United States of America (USA) stopped the proceedings.
