Sivenathi Nontshinga Defeats Hector Flores to Become IBF Champ!
In the biggest fight of their careers, light flyweight fighters Hector “Baby Bull” Flores (20-1-4, 10 KO’s) and Sivenathi “Special One” Nontshinga (11-0, 9 KO’s) went to war with one another. Hanging in the balance was the vacant IBF 108-pound title.
It was the first time that either boxer fought for a full world title. The belt was made available after Felix Alvarado vacated the strap following a three-year title run. To date, Flores has fought all but one fight in his native Mexico. Likewise, this will be Nontshinga’s first duel contested outside of his native South African homeland.
SEEN ONE, SEEN ‘EM ALL
The two began the bout with lively action right out the gate with neither really being the consistent ring general. Yet, in the final minute of the second round, Nontshinga floored Flores with a thudding right hook that connected flush with his jaw. To his credit, the Mexican rose without issue and finished the round intact. Having fully shaken off the knockdown, Flores pressed the action for the entirety of the third which he probably won handsdown.
In the fourth, Flores repeated the success of the third, only he significantly picked up the pace. The body work that he had been dedicated to for the last several rounds appeared to be paying dividends. Nontshinga was very much in the fight but seemed to be losing ground quickly. An accidental clash of heads left Flores with a cut in the middle of his forehead during the fifth. Over the next several rounds, the pace and power of the match rapidly evaporated. While both men continued to throw consistently, it was evident that each were greatly diminished due to fatigue.
THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE!
Ultimately the two fighters would go toe-to-toe, in mild Rock’em Sock’em Robots mode until the final bell. Yet, when the scorecards were read, Nontshinga prevailed by way of split decision to the tune of 116-111(Nontshinga), 115-112 (Flores) and (114-113) (Nontshinga). With the spoils of war, the South African collected the vacant IBF light flyweight title.
Naturally, or at least one would imagine, that Special One would look to stage fights against fellow champions Hiroto Kyoguchi (WBA), Kenshiro Teraji (WBC) and Jonathan Gonzalez (WBO). Although, Teraji and Kyoguchi have already agreed to meet one another late this year.
By: Bakari Simpson
