by Francisco Salazar |
Sivenathi Nontshinga enjoys fighting in his hometown as much as any fighter, but he thrives on the challenge of fighting in someone else’s hometown.
That will be the case on Saturday when Nontshinga, who is ranked No. 2 in the 108-pound weight class according to The Ring, defends Masamichi Yabuki’s IBF junior flyweight world title at the Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname, Japan, a suburb of Nagoya where Yabuki lives .
At Friday’s weigh-in, Nontshing weighed 107.3 pounds. Yabuki weighed 107.1 pounds.
Nontshinga (13-1, 10 knockouts), based in Reeston, South Africa, last fought on February 16, defeating Adrien Curiel in the 10th round and regaining the IBF world champion belt. The victory over Curiel was a rematch of their November 4 clash, which Curiel won by knockout in the second round.
The 25-year-old won the vacant IBF title in September 2022, defeating Hector Flores Calixto via split decision. Both victories over Curiel and Flores came in Mexico. Nontshinga will go to foreign soil again to defend his title against Yabuki (16-4, 15 KO), who is ranked 6th according to The Ring.
Nontshinga has no problem fighting in another fighter’s hometown and actually loves fighting in this environment.
“Honestly, I love fighting in foreign countries or in my opponent’s backyard,” Nontshinga told The Ring Wednesday. “Thanks to them, I am (much) better and more powerful, and even (more) confident, because in the end it is me and the boxer in the square ring. Nobody else.”
Nontshinga hopes to follow in the footsteps of some of South Africa’s boxing greats, including the likes of former world champions ‘Baby’ Jake Matlala, Gerrie Coetzee and Brian Mitchell. All three fighters survived defeat before winning the world championship belt and leaving their mark on the sport.
Despite losing to Curiel in the first fight, Nontshinga recovered and regained the world champion belt. Nontshinga wants to forge his own path in the sport and hopes to contribute to the great history of the sport in South Africa.
“I’ve learned that sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but the main reason is learning, dusting yourself off and pulling your socks up,” said Nontshinga, who made his professional debut in East London, South Africa, in July 2017. “It’s all a learning curve . Think of it as a minor setback for (a) major setback (or) a major comeback.
“To be mentioned among the best from my country would simply mean a lot because these are our icons.”
Nontshinga is trained and managed by Colin Nathan, who is based in Johannesburg and is respected in boxing circles in South Africa and abroad. Nontshinga is grateful to have someone with Nathan’s pedigree in his corner.
“(Colin) means everything to me,” Nontshinga said. “(He) played a huge role in my career. I’m here because of him. I will always honor this man’s name. He changed my life and the life of my family.”
A victory over Yakubi could put Nontshinga on the path to unification with another 108-pound world titleholder. Nontshinga could face the winner of the October 13 fight between Shokichi Iwata and Jairo Noriega, who will fight for the vacant WBO junior flyweight world title.
A fight with Kenshiro Teraji, who is the 108-pound ring champion, is possible.
Nontshinga wants to make a statement at Yakubi’s expense and also prove that he is the best fighter at 108 pounds.
“I will surprise the whole world and outsmart Yabuki, but believe me, the fight will end in (a) knockout in the later rounds.
“I think I’m one of the best junior flyweights and I have the tools to become the best.”
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