The achievement by Sivenathi “The Special One” Nontshinga, who showed guts and determination in Mexico yesterday morning, has united South Africans in the boxing space where jealousy, animosity and backbiting are the norm.
Nontshinga’s victory against that country’s fighter Hector Flores saw him crowned the IBF junior flyweight champion.
Notshinga, 23, becomes the only IBF world champion in SA right now. The last was Moruti Mthalane who lost his flyweight title 18 months ago. Coincidentally, Mthalane and Nontshinga are under the guidance of accomplished manager Colin Nathan. Nontshinga’s father and trainer Thembani Gopheni was also in his corner.
Mthalane said: “Sive gave his best and he showed big heart to succeed. We trained hard together and we always gave him assurance that he has what it takes to win; the advantage with this young man is that when we give him advice he listens. I am very happy for him.”
Nathan said: “I am very proud for Sivenathi’s father for allowing me to take over his son at such a crucial stage of his career. I am over the moon; I am over the moon and ecstatic for SA boxing – the first legitimate world champ in 18 months – the last being Moruti.”
Nomfesane Nyatela, CEO of Rumble Africa Promotions which took charge of Nontshinga’s career from when he fought his first pro fight in 2017, said: “We are overexcited that our investment is paying off; when one stages a tournament you do that because you are grooming boys to world standards and here we are today celebrating the youngster’s achievement in such a short space of time.”
Accomplished manager Mlandeli Tengimfene, whose charge Zolani Tete was the last fighter from East London to win the IBF belt in 2014 with late trainer Mhikiza Myekeni, said: “I saw it coming; remember before he went for camp his trainer and father Gopheni asked that his son train in my gym ... and that gave us a closer look at Nontshinga.
“The decision from Nontshinga’s team Rumble Africa to move this boy to Johannesburg to train on high altitude for this fight and also roping in Colin who has made champs was of the best. I congratulate them. The effort from Nontshinga’s team, especially his father, of not being selfish, is commendable. The biggest strength of Rumble Africa Promotions is their ability to consult and seek assistance. I am very happy for them.”
Sadly, Myekeni died recently and was buried on Sunday.
Tete said: “I told him then that he was going to be a world champion. My wishes of seeing many guys becoming world champions is coming to fruition; we will both hold each other side-by-side, taking our country to another level. I am so excited; I am over the moon by this victory.”
The fight on Sunday was Nontshinga’s 11th and he remains undefeated. It was a tough 12-rounder and the second round knockdown helped him to score a split points decision.
Promoter Tshele Kometsi said: “The boy showed the aspiration of becoming a world champ; he was not there as a tourist but to show what South Africans are made of.”
Meanwhile Boxing SA chairperson Luthando Jack made it clear that the regulator’s war with dismissed CEO Moffart Qithi is far from over.
BSA lost a case in 2018 against Qithi, who had appealed his dismissal in 2015. The regulator lost the review last week at the Labour Court. BSA was ordered to pay costs and that of review application.
“We are appealing the judgment; that is the decision we’ve taken on Thursday, to appeal – the status quo remains,” he said.
This means that Qithi will remain dismissed.
BSA was ordered to pay him R4m which was his R120,000 monthly salary that he had not been paid since being dismissed in 2015. The longer the matter drags, the more BSA will have to pay in the end. Right now, Qithi could walk away with at least R10m.
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