Sivenathi Nontshinga
Sivenathi Nontshinga | |
|---|---|
| Born | 3 December 1998 Newlands, Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| Other names | The Special One |
| Statistics | |
| Weight(s) | Light flyweight |
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (165 cm) |
| Reach | 67 in (170 cm) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 15 |
| Wins | 13 |
| Wins by KO | 10 |
| Losses | 2 |
| Draws | 0 |
| No contests | 0 |
Sivenathi Nontshinga (born 3 December 1998) is a South African professional boxer. He is a two-time IBF light-flyweight world champion, having held the belt from 2022 to November 2023 in his first reign, and from February 2024 to October 2024 in his second reign. He has previously held the IBF International light-flyweight title from 2019 to 2022. Also a former African light-flyweight champion, he is ranked as the world's fifth-best active light-flyweight by BoxRec[1] and the seventh-best by the IBF.[2]
Early life
[edit]Nontshinga was raised in Newlands, a "chicken farm community" located at the entrance to Mdantsane township in Eastern Cape.[3] His father, Thembani Gopheni, is his trainer and his handler.[3]
Professional boxing career
[edit]Early career
[edit]Nontshinga made his professional debut on 30 July 2017 at the age of 18, defeating Sandile Wessels in a third-round finish in East London. After four stoppages in his first four fights, he was soon recognized as a promising teen sensation in South Africa.[3] In only his fifth pro fight, he defeated Tisetso Modisadife for the vacant African light-flyweight title.[4]
On 7 April 2019, he scored a first-round knockout over Adam Yahaya to win the vacant IBF International light-flyweight title in Port Elizabeth.[5][6] In his first title defense, Nontshinga defeated compatriot Siyabonga Siyo, a fighter he idolised growing up.[4] He finished Siyo with a barrage of blows in the ninth round to make it eighth stoppage wins in eighth fights.[7] He retained his belt again on 8 March 2020 by defeating Ivan Soriano, ranked number 5 by the IBF, at the Orient Theatre in East London.[8] Nontshinga suffered a swollen left eye early, but after knocking him down at the end of the fourth round, he dropped the veteran for good in the fifth with a right cross.[9][10]
After more than a year without a fight due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Nontshinga defeated Filipino prospect Christian Araneta in an IBF title eliminator in Port Elizabeth on 24 April 2021. Although he was knocked down in the 12th round, he was favored unanimously on the judges' scorecards (115–112, 114–113, 114–113).[11]
IBF light flyweight champion
[edit]Nontshinga vs. Flores
[edit]Nontshinga faced the undefeated Hector Flores for the vacant IBF light flyweight title on 3 September 2022, following a seventeen-month absence from the sport, at the Centro de Usos Múltiples in Hermosillo, Mexico and was as such his first fight outside of his native South Africa. The bout was scheduled for the undercard of the Juan Francisco Estrada and Argi Cortes super flyweight title bout.[12] Nontshinga won the fight by split decision. Two of the judges scored the fight 116–111 and 114–113 in his favor, while the third judge scored it 115–112 for Flores. Nontshinga scored the sole knockdown of the fight in the second round, as he floored his opponent with a right hook which looped around the guard.[13] The newly crowned Nontshinga signed a promotional deal with Matchroom Boxing four days after capturing the vacant belt.[14] The championship bout was later awarded "Fight of the Year" honors by the IBF.[15]
Nontshinga vs. Suganob
[edit]On February 28, 2023, Nontshinga was ordered by the IBF to make a mandatory title defense against Regie Suganob.[16] The title fight was booked to take place on June 16, 2023,[17] at the International Convention Centre in East London, South Africa.[18] The event organizers, Rumble Africa Promotions, later postponed the event to July 2 to allow SABC Sport to setup TV coverage.[19] Nontshinga won the fight by unanimous decision, with two scorecards of 116–112 and one scorecard of 117–110 in his favor.[20]
Nontshinga vs. Curiel I & II
[edit]Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing confirmed on September 11, 2023, that Nontshinga would make a voluntary title defense against the #11 ranked IBF light-flyweight contender Adrian Curiel. The fight took place at the Casino de Monte Carlo Salle Medecin in Monte Carlo, Monaco on November 4, 2023,[21][22] as the co-main event to the IBF super-featherweight title bout between Joe Cordina and Edward Vazquez.[23] Nontshinga lost the fight by an upset second-round knockout.[24] An immediate rematch was booked for February 16, 2024, and took place in Oaxaca City, Mexico.[25] Nontshinga reclaimed the title by a tenth-round technical knockout. He knocked Curiel down 44 seconds into the tenth round, before forcing the referee to wave the fight off with a flurry of punches on a cornered and unresponsive Curiel.[26]
Professional boxing record
[edit]| 15 fights | 13 wins | 2 losses |
|---|---|---|
| By knockout | 10 | 2 |
| By decision | 3 | 0 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | Loss | 13–2 | Masamichi Yabuki | TKO | 9 (12), 1:50 | Oct 12, 2024 | Aichi Sky Expo, Tokoname, Japan | Lost IBF light-flyweight title |
| 14 | Win | 13–1 | Adrian Curiel | TKO | 10 (12) 0:44 | 16 Feb 2024 | Oaxaca City, Oaxaca, Mexico | Won IBF light-flyweight title |
| 13 | Loss | 12–1 | Adrian Curiel | KO | 2 (12) 1:09 | 4 Nov 2023 | Casino de Monte Carlo Salle Medecin, Monte Carlo, Monaco | Lost IBF light-flyweight title |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Regie Suganob | UD | 12 | 2 Jul 2023 | International Convention Centre, East London, South Africa | Retained IBF light-flyweight title |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Hector Flores | SD | 12 | 3 Sep 2022 | Centro de Usos Múltiples, Hermosillo, Mexico | Won vacant IBF light-flyweight title |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Christian Araneta | UD | 12 | 24 Apr 2021 | Boardwalk Casino, Port Elizabeth, South Africa | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Ivan Soriano | KO | 5 (12) | 8 Mar 2020 | Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa | Retained IBF International light-flyweight title |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Siyabonga Siyo | TKO | 9 (12), 1:48 | 28 Jul 2019 | Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa | Retained IBF International light-flyweight title |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Adam Yahaya | KO | 1 (12), 1:27 | 7 Apr 2019 | Nangoza Jebe Hall, Port Elizabeth, South Africa | Won vacant IBF International light-flyweight title |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Muhsin Kizota | TKO | 7 (8) | 9 Dec 2018 | Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Tisetso Modisadife | TKO | 9 (12), 2:51 | 21 Oct 2018 | Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa | Won vacant African light-flyweight title |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Nwabisile Cholani | TKO | 5 (6) | 29 Jul 2018 | Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Lusizo Manzana | KO | 3 (4) | 8 Apr 2018 | Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Sive Jongwana | TKO | 2 (4) | 10 Dec 2017 | Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Sandile Wessels | TKO | 3 (6) | 30 Jul 2017 | Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "BoxRec: Light flyweight ratings". boxrec.com. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
- ^ "IBF Ratings". www.ibf-usba-boxing.com. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
- ^ a b c Zifo, Mesuli (17 August 2018). "Teen sensation to put his gloves to great use in the square ring". Daily Dispatch. Retrieved 15 May 2020 – via PressReader.
- ^ a b Magasela, Bongani (6 March 2020). "Young Sivenathi Nontshinga and others to erupt". The Sowetan. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
- ^ Jackson, Ron (7 April 2019). "Fuzile wins in style over Koasicha". SuperSport. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
- ^ Malan, Droeks (7 April 2019). "AZINGA FUZILE DAZZLES AGAINST ROMULO KOASICHA, LOOKS TOWARD TITLE SHOT". ringtv.com. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
- ^ Magasela, Bongani (30 July 2019). "Siyo no match for Nontshinga". The Sowetan. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
- ^ Zifo, Mesuli (8 April 2020). "Nontshinga not rushing for world title shot". Daily Dispatch. Retrieved 15 May 2020 – via PressReader.
- ^ "Nontshinga scores spectacular knockout". Daily Dispatch. 8 March 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
- ^ Malan, Droeks (8 March 2020). "YANGA SIGQIBO KOS CRIS PAULINO IN 7, SIVENATHI NONTSHINGA REMAINS UNBEATEN". ringtv.com. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
- ^ Malan, Droeks (24 April 2021). "Sivenathi Nontshinga survives last round scare, outboxes Christian Araneta to win IBF eliminator". ringtv.com. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
- ^ Isaacson, David (28 August 2022). "Groomed Sive Nontshinga aiming for a slice of SA boxing history". timeslive.co.za. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
- ^ Songalia, Ryan (3 September 2022). "Sivenathi Nontshinga Outfights Hector Flores To Split Decision Victory, Wins IBF Junior Flyweight Title". ringtv.com. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
- ^ Random Hits (7 September 2022). "Sivenathi Nontshinga Inks Promotional Agreement With Eddie Hearn". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
- ^ Isaacson, David. "SA boxer Nontshinga receives IBF award for title-winning performance". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ Donovan, Jake (28 February 2023). "Sive Nontshinga-Regie Suganob Mandatory Junior Flyweight Title Fight Ordered By IBF". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ^ Stumberg, Patrick L. (11 April 2023). "Sivenathi Nontshinga vs Regie Suganob title fight set for June 16th in South Africa". badlefthook.com. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
- ^ Magasela, Bongani. "Notshinga to enjoy home support as he defends IBF title". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ "Sivenathi Nontshinga welcomes TV Coverage confirmation & date change for world title fight | main-domain". SABC. 8 June 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ Magasela, Bongani. "Nontshinga thrills home crowd as he retains title in style". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ "Matchroom Confirms Nontshinga Fight". inksport.co.za. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ Mnyandu, Velile (28 September 2023). "Sivenathi Nontshinga aiming for unification after voluntary IBF title defence". SABC. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ Wainwright, Anson (1 November 2023). "Sivenathi Nontshinga takes on Adrian Curiel hoping to keep and then unify his belt". The Ring. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ "SA's only mainstream world champion Nontshinga KO'd in Monte Carlo". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ Hits, Random (26 January 2024). "Adrian Curiel vs. Sivenathi Nontshinga Rematch Lands in Oaxaca". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ Hansen, John (16 February 2024). "Comeback! Sivenathi Nontshinga rallies to stop Adrian Curiel and reclaim IBF belt". Bad Left Hook. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
External links
[edit]- Boxing record for Sivenathi Nontshinga from BoxRec (registration required)