Nontshinga opens up on journey ahead of third world title bid

By Velile Mnyandu
5th June 2026

As Sivenathi “Special One” Nontshinga prepares for his next fight against Filipino boxer Reggie Suganob, which could take him closer to becoming a three-time world champion, he’s not forgotten the role played by people who drive his success, Colin Nathan and Larry Wainstein.

Nontshinga, a two-time IBF world champion, was recently ordered by the IBF to fight Suganob for a world title eliminator. This is the same boxer he had defeated in 2023, when he defended his title for the first time at the Orient Theatre, Ku-Gompo City.

Nontshinga lost his IBF title in October 2024 to Masimichi Yabuki of Japan, since then, he’s always waited for the next opportunity, and he never gave up, but there’s also something special this period has taught him about life in general...

"The layoff that I had was a need, my career was starting to boom but my personal life was going another way, so it helped me to just go back and give people time and fix some of the things I needed too fix. It's a dream come true that I've fixed all of those things, now I'm back as a stronger and wiser Sivenathi Nontshinga."

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Nontshinga hasn’t fought since November last year, when he stopped Sunday Kiwale in the second round at the Booysens. During this soul-searching moment, Nontshinga says he drew himself closer to God and has got a special message for the young generation...

"I'm closer than ever to God, and I started to learn more about myself and my capabilities. I was once roaming around the streets, but now I'm the person that I am."