Sivenathi Nontshinga enjoys a hometown battle like all fighter, however thrives off the problem of preventing in another person’s hometown.
That would be the case Saturday as Nontshinga, who’s rated No. 2 by The Ring at 108 kilos, will defend his IBF world junior flyweight title Masamichi Yabuki on the Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname, Japan, a suburb of Nagoya, the place Yabuki resides.
At Friday’s weigh-in, Nontshinga weighed in at 107.3 kilos. Yabuki got here in at 107.1 kilos.
Nontshinga (13-1, 10 knockouts), who resides in Reeston, South Africa, final fought on February 16, stopping Adrien Curiel within the tenth spherical and reclaiming the IBF world title belt. The win over Curiel was a rematch from their November 4 conflict, which Curiel received by knockout within the second spherical.
The 25-year-old received the vacant IBF title in September 2022, defeating Hector Flores Calixto by break up resolution. Each victories over Curiel and Flores happened in Mexico. Nontshinga will once more journey to overseas soil to defend the title in opposition to Yabuki (16-4, 15 KOs), who’s rated No. 6 by The Ring.
Nontshinga has no downside preventing in one other fighter’s hometown and truly relishes preventing in that surroundings.
“To be sincere, I really like after I battle in these overseas international locations or within the opponent’s backyards,” Nontshinga instructed The Ring Wednesday. “They make me so (a lot) higher and extra highly effective and even (extra) assured as a result of, on the finish of the day, contained in the squared ring, it’s me and the boxer. No one else.”
Nontshinga hopes to proceed within the footsteps of a few of the nice boxing figures in South Africa, together with the likes of former world titleholders ‘Child’ Jake Matlala, Gerrie Coetzee, and Brian Mitchell. All three fighters had a setback earlier than profitable a world title belt and leaving their mark within the sport.
Regardless of the loss to Curiel within the first battle, Nontshinga bounced again to win again his world title belt. Whereas he needs to create his personal path within the sport, Nontshinga hopes to contribute to the nice historical past of the game in South Africa.
“I realized that generally you win, generally you lose, however the principle cause is to study and mud your self off, and pull up your socks,” stated Nontshinga, who made his professional debut in East London, South Africa in July 2017. “It’s all a studying curve. Take it as a minor setback for (a) main setback (or) for a serious comeback.
“To be talked about with the very best from my nation, it will merely imply loads as a result of these are our icons.”
Nontshinga is skilled and managed by Colin Nathan, who resides in Johannesburg and is nicely revered in boxing circles in South Africa and overseas. Nontshinga is grateful to have somebody with Nathan’s pedigree in his nook.
“(Colin) is my the whole lot man,” stated Nontshinga. “(He has) performed an enormous half or function in my profession. I’m right here due to him. I’ll at all times put some respect on that man’s title. He has modified my life and the lives of my household.”
A win over Yakubi might put Nontshinga on a path to unifying in opposition to one other world titleholder at 108 kilos. Nontshinga might face the winner of the October 13 conflict between Shokichi Iwata and Jairo Noriega, who shall be clashing with the vacant WBO world junior flyweight title at stake.
There’s a potential showdown in opposition to Kenshiro Teraji, who’s the Ring champion at 108 kilos.
Nontshinga needs to make a press release on the expense of Yakubi, and likewise show he’s the very best fighter at 108 kilos.
“I’ll shock the entire world and outsmart Yabuki, however imagine me, the battle will finish in (a) knockout within the later rounds.
“I believe I’m top-of-the-line junior flyweights and I’ve obtained the instruments to develop into the best.”
Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has coated boxing in Southern California and overseas since 2000. Francisco additionally covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He might be reached at [email protected]
