Sivenathi Nontshinga Aspires to Become Undisputed Champion
South Africa’s Sivenathi “Special One” Nontshinga (13-1, 10 KOs) is a man of immense pride, a fighter who wants to do things that have never been done before. The two-time IBF champion wants to do something unprecedented in his nation’s history. He wants to become an undisputed champion.
On February 16, the 25-year-old regained the IBF belt with a dramatic tenth-round knockout over Adrian Curiel in Curiel’s home country of Mexico. After pulling off the victory from what looked like a sure defeat, Special One made his intentions known during the post-fight interview.
“My dream is to unify the division, to become the first undisputed world champion in South Africa.”
ATTEMPTING TO DO SOMETHING UNPRECEDENTED
South Africa is a country steeped in boxing tradition. Pundits in that area of the world view two-time junior lightweight champion and Hall of Famer Brian Mitchell as the best fighter ever fighter from that nation. Two-division world champ Hekkie Budler is the only fighter boxer from South Africa to be a unified champion when he did so at 108 in May 2018.
WBO champion Jonathan Gonzalez and unified champion Kenshiro “The Amazing Boy” Teraji are the other world champions at junior flyweight. Gonzalez has been on the shelf due to illness and injury. The Amazing Boy has a shared desire to collect all the major world titles at 108. A fight between Teraji and Gonzalez has been long discussed but has yet to occur.
HOW COULD IT HAPPEN
The best recourse for the Nontshinga camp is for a fight between Teraji and Gonzalez to finally happen, with Nontshinga facing the winner. A Nontshinga versus Teraji showdown entices followers of the lower-weight divisions.
Boxing is full of sanctioning obligations and egos between managers and promoters at the negotiation table. But Special One has a bargaining chip, and that is his promoter, Eddie Hearn.
The Chairman of Matchroom Promotions is considered a true dealmaker and power broker in the sport. Hearn has similar aspirations for the South African. His influence and work behind the scenes could pull things in Nontshinga’s favor for Special One to pursue his goal of becoming the reigning kingpin of junior flyweight.
