Notebook: Nontshinga rallies to avenge loss, regains title by TKO
Notebook: Nontshinga rallies to avenge loss, regains title by TKO
Mauricio Lara held to draw; Jared Anderson foe named; GB with key signing; Nunez wins 130 eliminator; Quick hits; Show and tell
A note to Fight Freaks Unite readers: I created Fight Freaks Unite in January 2021 and eight months later it also became available for paid subscriptions for additional content — and as a way to help keep this newsletter going and for readers to support independent journalism. If you haven’t upgraded to a paid subscription please consider it. If you have already, I truly appreciate it! Also, consider a gift subscription for the Fight Freak in your life.
Three months after Sivenathi Nontshinga was flattened by a massive right hand he never saw in the second round and lost the IBF junior flyweight title to unheralded Adrian Curiel in Monte Carlo, he rallied for a dramatic 10th-round knockout to regain the belt in an immediate rematch on Friday night.
“When I lost the title I cried so much,” Nontshinga said. “I wanted the rematch and I got it today. I had to make sure I polished everything and come as sharp as ever. I’ve been working so hard ever since I lost the title.”
At the time of the stoppage of the action-packed main event of the Matchroom Boxing card on DAZN at the Auditorium Guelaguetza in Oaxaca, Mexico, Curiel was ahead 87-83 and 86-84 on two scorecards while it was 85-85 on the third.
“Just an incredible fight; really a fight of two halves,” Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn said. “Curiel started so well. (Nontshinga trainer) Colin (Nathan) and Sive had a game plan, which didn’t look right at the time. But it was genius in the end. To come back from the knockout defeat in Monte Carlo to win the title back in Curiel’s backyard in Mexico is an incredible performance.
“To be a two-time world champion, South Africa should be very proud of him. To come here and put the demons of Monaco behind him is an incredible performance.”
Please upgrade to a paid subscription for full access to the rest of this post and all posts and comments — and also help support independent journalism