Former IBF junior-flyweight champion Sivenathi Nontshinga alongside his trainer Colin Nathan and Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie.Photo: Gayton McKenzie/X
Sivenathi Nontshinga has vowed to bounce back after he lost his IBF junior-flyweight title via a ninth-round stoppage to Masamichi Yabuki in Japan on Saturday.
The 25-year-old Nontshinga entered the fight as the overwhelming favourite but struggled from the outset, as Yabuki dictated the pace and landed cleaner punches.
Despite his best efforts to come back into the fight, Yabuki continued to dominate the fight and eventually dropped the ‘special one’ in round eight, leading to referee Mark Calo-oy eventually putting an end to the fight in round nine.
Congratulations Masamichi Yabuki who stops Sivenathi Nontshinga in the 9th round to win the IBF World Light Flyweight Title! pic.twitter.com/yzTgfRT0t8
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) October 12, 2024
Following his disappointing loss, Nontshinga vowed to go back to the drawing board, while conceding that Yabuki was the better fighter on the day.
“I’ll go back to the drawing board, work hard, stay humble as ever, I’m teachable, down to earth, I’ll never change myself and I’ll never let losses define me.
“He caught me with a good punch I didn’t see it coming. I tried to look at my corner but I could not it see anybody. I was just hearing the noise.
“Congratulations to him he is a good boxer with experience, the best man won vandag (today) ,”Nontshinga told SA Boxingtalk.
Nontshinga added that he will now aim to become a three-time world champion.
“I will bounce back I promise you, I’ll stay in the gym. I’ll keep working hard and this is just a minor setback, and now it’s time for me to become a three-time world champion so let’s do it,” Nontshinga concluded.
IOL Sport
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