In his quest to challenge for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior-flyweight title currently held by Thai boxer Thangsang Simsri, Sivenathi ‘Special One’ Nontshinga has only one choice as he faces Regie ‘The Filipino Phenom’ Suganob in the Philippines on Saturday.
With the crowd expected to be hostile, then Nontshinga’s only choice is to forget about what happens outside the ring and focus on defeating Suganob, in the process silencing the Filipino boxing fans as they clash in an IBF junior-flyweight elimination bout at the Bohol Wisdom Gym in Tagbilaran City.
Nerves of steel, mental strength and a lion-hearted approach will be key to the award-winning Nontshinga, who has already held the same IBF title twice.
After tipping the scales at 48,80 kilograms during Friday’s official weigh-in, Nontshinga didn’t mince his words about what he plans to do once the gong goes. Nontshinga goes to the fight having a slight advantage as he outpointed Suganob when he successfully defended his IBF junior-flyweight title at the International Convention Centre (ICC), KuGompo City, in July 2023.
“I’m going to beat him again,” the 27-year-old Nontshinga, who is trained by Colin ‘Nomakanjani’ Nathan, declared after making the required weight.
On the other hand, Suganob, who weighed 48,94kg is no slouch and has proved that by winning all his last five fights since losing to Nontshinga. Former South African minimumweight and junior-flyweight champion, Siphamandla Baleni, is one of Suganob’s victims, having been stopped in the eighth round in February this year.
Meanwhile, IBF president, Daryl Peoples, is going to be the fight supervisor with veteran referee, Tony Weeks from the United States of America (USA), being the third man inside the ring.
Weeks’ American compatriot Steve Weisfeld, Krieksang Thonghong from Thailand and Japanese Koji Tanaka are the fight judges. – Monwabisi Jimlongo
