Opportunities are opening up gradually for local boxers, especially those that are ranked higher by international bodies, to be involved in big fights that can ultimately result in the country producing more world champions.
That, of course, will be determined by the competitiveness of South Africans against their international foes.
The spotlight has turned on enormously talented IBF International junior-flyweight champion Sive “The Special One” Nontshinga.
The charismatic 22-year-old boxer from the Eastern Cape – who is the incarnation of Welcome “The Hawk” Ncita, who thrilled fans with his uncanny eyesight and reflexes in his heyday – has caught the attention of the IBF’s championship committee, which has elevated him to the status of being genuine IBF championship material.
The New York-based boxing body has approved third ranked Nontshinga to be involved in IBF an elimination fight against Abraham Rodriguez of Mexico, who is one spot bellow him in the rankings. Nontshinga is undefeated after nine fights while 26-year-old Rodriguez, a former WBC Youth minimum weight champ, has lost two of his 29 fights.
The IBF’s championship committee wrote to trainer Colin Nathan, the international adviser of Nontshinga’s promoter Rumble Africa Promotions (RAP) and advised that promoter Thembaletu Ntuthu must write back no later than today to indicate if they are interested in the offer of the elimination fight. The winner will earn mandatory rights to challenge champion Hiroto Kyogushi, the Japanese fighter who won the title from Hekkie Budler in 2018.
RAP’s CEO Nomfesane Nyatela said they have already responded to the IBF.
“We want to do the fight here and that is why we have begun with the negotiations,” she said. It might even be cheaper in terms of sanctioning fees because purses in smaller weight divisions are not that high. “We are also looking to have Yanga Sigqibo, Ludumo Lamati, Ayabonga Sonjica, Luyanda Nwanambi, Azinga Fuzile and Lerato Dlamini back in action.”
Sigqibo is ranked second by the WBO and seventh by the WBC, while Lamati is ranked eighth by the IBF and fifth by the WBC.
SA junior-featherweight holder Sonjica and Ntwanambi, who is the WBO Africa flyweight champion, are yet to earn recognition from international boxing bodies. Fuzile occupies fourth spot in the IBF’s lightweight rankings with Dlamini ranked second by the WBC.
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