Sivenathi Nontshinga calls street hero mojo to face Masamichi Yabuki in Japan
Sivenathi Nontshinga enjoys a city fight as much as any fighter, but thrives on the challenge of fighting in someone else’s hometown.
It will be the same on Saturday as Nontshinga, Ranked number 2 by The Ring at 108 kg, Masamichi Yabuki will defend his IBF junior flyweight title at the Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname, Japan, a suburb of Nagoya, where Yabuki lives.
Weighed on Friday, Nontshinga weighed 107.3 pounds. It weighed in at 107.1 pounds.
Nontshinga (13-1, 10 knockouts), who lives in Reeston, South Africa, last fought on February 16, stopping Adrien Curiel in the 10th round to regain the IBF world belt. Curiel’s victory was a rematch of their November 4 match, 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 by split decision. Both Curiel’s and Flores’ victories came in Mexico. Nontshinga will also go abroad to defend his title against Yabuki (16-4, 15 KOs), who is ranked 6th by The Ring.
Nontshinga has no problem fighting in his hometown in another war and he enjoys fighting there.
“To be honest, I like it when I fight in these foreign countries or in the opponents’ premises,” Nontshinga told The Ring Wednesday. “They make me (much) better and (much) stronger and (more) confident because, at the end of the day, inside the squared ring, it’s me and the boxer. There is no one else.”
Nontshinga hopes to continue in the footsteps of the country’s boxing legends including former champions ‘Baby’ Jake Matlala, Gerrie Coetzee and Brian Mitchell. All three fighters were fortunate before winning a world title belt and leaving their mark on the sport.
Despite being defeated by Curiel in the first fight, Nontshinga bounced back and won his world title. Although he wants to make his own way in this game, Nontshinga hopes to contribute to the great history of this game in South Africa.
“I learned that sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but the main reason is to learn to dust yourself off, pull up your socks,” said Nontshinga, who played for the first time in East London, South Africa in July 2017. Everything is a learning curve. Consider it a minor reversal (a) of a major reversal (or) of a major comeback.
“Talking to the best in my country, it can mean a lot because those are our icons.”
Nontshinga is trained and managed by Colin Nathan, who lives in Johannesburg and is respected in boxing competitions in South Africa and abroad. Nontshinga is grateful to have someone with Nathan’s lineage in his corner.
“(Colin) is everything, man,” said Nontshinga. “(He) played a big role in my career. I’m here for him. I will always put some respect in that man’s name. He has changed my life and my family’s.”
Yakubi’s win could put Nontshinga in a position to meet another world title holder at 108 kilograms. Nontshinga could face the winner of the October 13 fight between Shokichi Iwata and Jairo Noriega for the vacant WBO junior flyweight world title.
There may be a match against Kenshiro Teraji, who is the ring champion at 108 kilograms.
Nontshinga wants to make a statement with Yakubi’s money, and prove that he is the best fighter at 108 pounds.
“I will surprise the whole world and defeat Yabuki, but believe me, the fight will end (a) with a knockout in the next rounds.
“I think I’m one of the best young actors and I have the tools to be a champion.”
Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has handled boxing in Southern California and internationally since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. They can be reached at [email protected]
