True Visionary: Sivenathi Nontshinga predicted his boxing future from a young age

Sivenathi โ€˜The Special Oneโ€™ Nontshinga is currently Africaโ€™s only reigning world belt holder. Ahead of his first defence on Saturday in Monte Carlo, the inspirational light-flyweight spoke to Boxing News about family, the vision he had as a child, and his thrilling win against Hector Flores, including the famous instructions he received from trainer Colin Nathan late in the fight.

Interview: Shaun Brown


BN: Is your upcoming fight against Adrian Curiel the final hurdle before you take on the likes of Ken Shiro?

SN: Yes. First and foremost, get in the ring and defend the title. Come November 4 Iโ€™ll be fit mentally, physically, and spiritually, and Iโ€™ll give a good clean match that the world wonโ€™t forget. And yes, the aim is to unify the division because itโ€™s no longer about me anymore now… itโ€™s about the African continent as a whole. Iโ€™m the only current world champion here so as young as I am I want to be a positive, great role model for the young kids who are growing up, who want to achieve greatness in the sport of boxing. I want to set an example. So, yes, the aim is to unify the division and become the first [African] undisputed world champion.


BN: How has life been since winning the belt against Hector Flores? Has much changed or is life still the same?

SN: A lot has changed – starting with myself. The way I think, the way I carry myself, the way I talk to people. Iโ€™m such a humble boy because itโ€™s been a long time coming. This is the only thing Iโ€™ve ever wanted since I was a little kid. Iโ€™ve been in boxing for 12 years of my life. So, simplifying [it] means Iโ€™ve chose a great path and now itโ€™s paying off. Back home I can see the family, do the things I wanted to do for my family and what I want to provide for my mum and dad. Iโ€™m glad and grateful. Indeed, Iโ€™m the special one.


BN: How much does your family mean to you?

SN: My dad, my mum, each and everybody they are playing such a big role in motivating me, being there for me, making sure that Iโ€™ve eaten and that Iโ€™m in great shape. Theyโ€™re protecting me, making sure nothing disturbs me; nothing disturbs my peace. Theyโ€™re there for me. Even when we have good and bad times, theyโ€™re there with me so they mean a lot. I have to do it for them. Unfortunately, when youโ€™re a young kid you canโ€™t repay your mum and dad for raising you. The only thing to show is gratitude and show the world that youโ€™ve been raised in a disciplined way.


BN: Why did you get involved in boxing?

SN: I come from Duncan Village; itโ€™s such an infamous settlement. I was a quiet young kid who loved to be himself and by himself reading books, magazines, watching movies. When I started to go out and hang with other kids, they would bully me because I was young and I was tiny back then. I donโ€™t want to take that [and] coming from an infamous settlement thereโ€™s a high possibility of being [a] gangster, using substances. I was like, okay, cool, let me just discipline myself. My mum back then was working, so during the day I was all alone coming home from school. I met a friend of mine, and he showed me a boxing gym. I then fell in love with it. Ever since then Iโ€™ve never looked back.


BN: Who inspired you in boxing when you were growing up?

SN: Starting with the former champion Zolani Tete, the late Gabula Vabaza, a lot of boxers. Internationally I used to watch a lot of Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns, all those big fights back then. I was just a young kid who loved boxing. When I get inside that ring I always feel like a king. This is the only thing that when I wake up in the middle of the night, I say I must do it. I wake up and do it perfect. Iโ€™ve felt the greatness in the sport of boxing and boxing never turned its back on me, which is why I decided to choose it to be my friend. And finally it paid off because look at where I am today. Iโ€™m a world champion at the age of 24 years old doing the second defence. That is such a big achievement for where I come from because nobodyโ€™s ever done that.


BN: If you hadnโ€™t become a professional boxer, where do you think your life would have taken you?

SN: My parents wanted me to go to school but I kept on having this dream; this vision seeing myself as a world champion; seeing myself inspiring other young kids that look up to me and itโ€™s here now. Originally, I wanted to be a chartered accountant or commercial lawyer. My parents wanted me to go to school and I said, “No, can you please let me take a gap year in 2017 and see what is going to come.” Then I must give credit to Rumble Africa Promotions because they made me the person I am today. Ever since then everything started to flow. Iโ€™m a person whoโ€™s disciplined, who respects the sport, respects other people, and whoโ€™s down to earth. I took each and every opportunity with both hands. I get inside the square circle and deliver and do the job.


BN: Before you won your world title last year were you happy with how everything was going?

SN: Yes, I was happy, but there were times when we got struck by Covid, so I was inactive for a period of 18 months before I got the title against Hector Flores. Credit to him, heโ€™s one hell of a fighter, and I wish him nothing but the best. After I won the eliminator, Covid came, so I was inactive for 18 months. Fortunately, Felix Alvarado decided to vacate the title and then I was number one contender, Flores was number two, and then we had to fight, and I went straight to his backyard and got the title. Having people such as Colin Nathan who were there for me, stood by my side since day one, itโ€™s such a blessing. I was 15 years old, and I sent a message to him on Facebook and asked, โ€œDo you only deal with professional boxers or amateur boxers?โ€ Because I always wanted to join him. It was my vision because I knew where I wanted to be to become the person that I am today. I want to say this to my peers: You have to exchange energy with the universe, and you will meet some great people along the way, and I want to make sure you are good and youโ€™re reaching to the sky and setting bigger goals and achieve all those things.


BN: Going back to that tremendous fight against Hector Flores, what are your immediate memories of the night?

SN: When the referee raised my hand, and I was crowned world champion. When youโ€™re a young kid at the age of seven years old, the one thing you want is to get a fight and win that fight; to get a medal so you can show your parents I am really a boxer, this thing is real. Then to take that thing and turn professional. Oh, and when you are an amateur to fight for your country, for your continent. Iโ€™m not under pressure now [but] I love challenges because I believe they make us at the end of the day, and you become a better person. The only memory that is always stuck in my mind is when the commentator said: โ€œSouth Africa now has a world champion.โ€ It was a classic fight, and I got the award for Fight of the Year by the IBF.


BN: In round nine against Flores your trainer Colin Nathan said to you, โ€œYouโ€™ve got nine minutes to turn your life around. Let your hands go. If you want it, go and get it.โ€ When you heard those words did, they lift you?

SN: Yes, because I was in dark places, I was in [the] trenches. I was starting to panic. The atmosphere was hostile, it was hot, it was something else. So, when he said those things, I just saw myself as what I always wanted to be. It took me back to my roots and then I had to go there and let my hands do the talking. Each and every day now when Iโ€™m training, and I feel tired and exhausted, I always think of those words and suddenly Iโ€™ll become refreshed and push myself. It played such a huge part; a positive one. It has changed my life and Iโ€™m glad for having him in my corner.

Share Page