New champ Sivenathi Nontshinga and coach Colin Nathan go viral with inspirational speech

Unheralded South African Sivenathi Nontshinga traveled a number of thousand miles the world over to face Hector Flores for the vacant IBF junior flyweight title in Hermosillo, Mexico, on Friday.

It proved a profitable journey for the Cape City-born boxer, who fought the battle of his life, dropping Flores within the second spherical and edging residence by shut however well-deserved 12-round break up choice.

Nontshinga, who moved up two locations with the win and is now rated No. 5 by The Ring at 108-pounds, is rightly happy with his effort in opposition to his beforehand unbeaten foe.

“I’m feeling good,” Nontshinga (11-0, 9 knockouts) informed The Ring on his manner again to South Africa. “It means lots to me as a result of it’s a dream come true. It’s at all times been my dream to develop into a world champion.

“The battle was robust however I used to be prepared. I used to be match, mentally, bodily and spiritually. I knew getting within the ring, I’d get that strap. Hector Flores, is robust however the night time simply belonged to me.”

His coach Colin Nathan expertly guided his fighter all through the battle.

“It was a battle of attrition and he actually needed to dig deep,” he mentioned. “There’s some viral stuff of me going round on the finish of the ninth spherical after I mentioned to Sivenathi, ‘We’re behind and also you’ve acquired 9 minutes to show your life round.’ And that’s develop into fairly a factor in South African boxing, everybody’s speaking about that speech I gave him.

“I simply felt he wanted to win these final couple of rounds, notably the championship rounds to get the choice and he did that. I’m simply so happy with him and it was simply such a fantastic second within the nook when he responded.”

Sergio Mora on Twitter: “Nontshinga’s trainer didn’t allow him to lose a split decision in Mexico!! He pushed his fighter across the finish line. Great corner work! #FloresNontshinga” / Twitter

Nathan isn’t any stranger to successful on the highway, having scored extremely spectacular wins abroad with the likes of former two-division champion Hekkie Budler, additionally in Mexico in opposition to Elwin Soto and beforehand in Japan, notably successful The Ring, IBF and WBA 108-pound titles in opposition to Ryoichi Taguchi and two-time flyweight titlist Moruti Mthalane, who scored a handful of wins in Asia.

“I like going into hostile territory and being booed and pulling off the upset,” mentioned Nathan. “When the pressures on me and the percentages are stacked in opposition to me, usually I produce with my athletes. I actually like being in that surroundings. I simply love going to Mexico and successful.

“Regardless of whether or not I’m at residence or on the highway, I work very onerous to get the win, like in Japan and different nations the place I’ve pulled off some good wins. I simply go in there with the mindset, that is what we’ve got to do, even when we’re booed the followers can’t battle for the opposite athlete and we’ve simply acquired to deal with what we have to do.”

The arduous battle was celebrated in a low-key method although which will change when he arrives residence.

“I simply took lots of photos after which I simply went straight to mattress,” mentioned the brand new champion. “It should change my life in a constructive method. Now I’m a world champion and may carry myself as a result of I’ve gained in expertise.”

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