By Linda Ximba
In a bid to gain home ground advantage for world champion Sivenathi “Special” Nontshinga, his management is working hard to ensure he defends his IBF junior flyweight crown in South Africa.
The Eastern Cape boxer won the IBF crown against tough-as-nails Hector Flores via a split decision in Mexico in September last year.
Nontshinga’s trainer and manager, Colin “Nomakanjani” Nathan, said his charge is due for a voluntary defence.
“We hope the fight happens by the end of March or mid=April. We pray that things go our way in negotiations between various stakeholders, which include sponsors and the South African government,” said Nathan.
Nontshinga’s promotions company, Rumble Africa Promotion, which has been guiding his career since 2017, said they have begun talks with various people in a bid to source funds to stage a tournament of this magnitude.
“We have engaged both the SABC and SuperSport about the costs of staging this fight – and also the government. Hopefully they will come to the party. In our round table discussions with the IBF we pray that we are on the same page as well.”
“It would be great to have Sivenathi defending at home, especially before his Eastern Cape people. Many of our boxers have not been lucky, as they were forced to defend their titles away from home under difficult conditions,” the promoters said.
Ring veteran Moruti “Baby Face” Mthalane lost his IBF flyweight title to Sunny Edwards in England in May last year. Since reclaiming his crown in 2018, Mthalane had always been on the road, travelling long distances to defend his title in countries like China and Japan.
Local promoters lack sufficient funds to stage tournaments involving credible championships like the IBF, the World Boxing Council, the World Boxing Organisation and the World Boxing Association do.
Pictured above: Sivenathi Nontshinga
Image source: TimesLive
