It was a joyous occasion when newly-crowned world champion Sivenathi ‘Special One’ Nontshinga touched down at the OR International Airport on Tuesday following his win over Mexican boxer Adrian Curiel Dominguez in Mexico on Saturday morning (South African time).
Flanked by his dad Thembani ‘Best’ Gopheni and cutman Bernie Pailman, the International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior-flyweight champion was greeted by well-wishers who came to welcome him home.
Acting Boxing South Africa (BSA) chief executive officer Mandla Ntlanganiso as well as BSA provincial manager Hloks Ramagole also came to welcome the champion.
Speaking just after landing, Nontshinga thanked Rumble Africa Promotions (RAP) bosses Teris Ntutu (chairman) and Nomfesane Nyatela (RAP chief executive officer) for playing a massive role in making sure that he achieved his dream of becoming a world champion, not only once, but twice.
And defeating Dominguez was sweet revenge for the 25-year-old Nontshinga as the Mexican dethroned him with a second round stoppage in Monaco in November last year.
“I feel grateful and happy. Achievements make me humble, seeing that I have lost before, but I’m happy to raise the flag. The loss I appreciate it more, that’s because I’m not the person I was a year ago. I have grown, that’s why I emphasise that you have to take your losses on the chin. The losses make us the people that we are,” Nontshinga said.
Nontshinga added: “We have to stick together and come with solutions because there’s a lot of talent out there. I am a hardworking boxer, I am a dreamer.”
Nontshinga also hinted at a unification bout with Japanese boxer Kenshiro Teraji, who is the reign World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Association (WBA) junior-flyweight champion.
Meanwhile, Nontshinga is going to land at the King Phalo Airport in East London at 13h10 on Wednesday and has been invited to the State of the Province address by Eastern Cape Premier Lubabalo Mabuyane on Thursday.
