By Linda Ximba
Award-winning boxing trainer Colin “Nomakanjani” Nathan and world champion Sivenathi “Special One” Nontshinga have been nominated for awards by the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA).
Not only are the pair the first South African trainer and boxer to have been nominated by this reputable association – but they are the first Africans.
The BWAA was established way back in 1926.
Nathan, the 2017 and 2018 SA Boxing Trainer of the Year winner, is vying for the Eddie Futch Trainer of the Year gong. He’s competing with Bill Haney, Derrick James, Gennady Mashyanov and Bob Santos.
The highly-regarded late American mentor Futch groomed the likes of Joe “Smokin Joe” Frazier, Larry Holmes and Ridick “Big Daddy” Bowe to be world champions.
In a career spanning a decade, Nathan, a former TV continuity presenter, has produced seven legitimate world champions.
Among top fighters to come through his hands is Hekkie Budler, who won six world titles in two weight divisions. Among belts he won are the World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior-flyweight titles simultaneously against tough-as-teak Ryoichi Taguchi in his backyard in Japan in 2018.
Nathan took to Twitter to share the great news: “Honored and Humbled that @PunchPerfectBox have made me their International Boxing Trainer of the Year.”
As for Nontshinga, the IBF junior flyweight king’s clash against Mexican Hector Flores early in September has been nominated for the Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier Fight of the Year award.
The 23-year-old Nontshinga from East London became the first boxer to defeat Flores when he won their clash via a split decision in Mexico. This feat makes him the only South African right now to be called a legitimate world boxing champion
Other nominees for the Fight of the Year award:
Jermell Charlo’s 10th round knockout win over Brian Castano, Sebastian Fondura’s ninth round stoppage win over Erickson Lubin, Joe Joyce’s 11th round knockout victory over Joe Parker, Jai Opetaia’s points win over Mairis Briedis, Leigh Wood’s 12th round stoppage victory over Michael Conlan.
The winners are scheduled to be announced on 10 January.
Pictured above: Collin Nathan and his charge Sivenathi Nontshinga
Image Source: Supplied
