To say world champion Sivenathi ‘Special One’ Nontshinga is happy after he reclaimed the International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior-flyweight title following a 10th round stoppage victory over Mexican boxer Adrian Curiel Dominguez at the Guelaguetza Auditorium in Oaxaca on Saturday morning (South African time), it’s just an understatement.
This was definitely sweet victory for the 25-year-old Nontshinga as he overcame his conqueror Dominguez, who dethroned him in Monaco last November.
“I’m very happy to have won this fight. Actually, I can’t even describe the feeling of being a two-time world champion. This was always my title, I just lost it last year. I told people that I was glad to have lost that fight because that loss helped me to become a better person. I told myself that I would never let that setback affect me,” Nontshinga remarked.
“I’m excited, I’m grateful for the opportunity and the support back home. I worked so hard at the gym preparing for this fight. We used the smallest ring at our gym so that I could handle pressure because we knew that they were going to let us fight inside a small ring here.”
Nontshinga added: “Curiel has power, but he was not gonna stop me this time around. The last time he stopped me, he showed me where I had to rectify my mistakes. I’m happy that we worked on our mistakes. I’m now a two-time world champion.”
Nontshinga from Reeston in East London has now improved his record to 13 victories with 10 knockouts and a single loss while Dominguez dropped to 24 wins (five stoppages), five losses and a draw.
“I will fight anyone who wants to fight against me. At the moment, I want to enjoy my victory and will thereafter sit down with my team and discuss the wayforward,” Nontshinga concluded.
Meanwhile, Boxing South Africa (BSA) has congratulated the two-time world champion following his win over Dominguez.
“Boxing South Africa extends its heartfelt congratulations to Sivenathi ‘Special One’ Nontshinga for winning the world IBF light-flyweight championship by dethroning Adrian Curiel via a 10th round TKO at his home ground in Mexico, Oaxaca,” a BSA statement said.
“It gives us great joy for him to be crowned the two-time IBF world champion as he predicted before the fight. The 25-year-old has a bright future before him and we are confident that this win will be a motivation for other pugilists in South Africa who have dreams to be crowned world champions.”
