Colin Nathan eyes boxing history with Sivenathi Nontshinga, Phumelele Cafu

Africa and South Africa’s only credible current world champion Sivenathi Nontshinga will defend his IBF junior flyweight championship against Japan’s Misamichi Yabuki in Tokomane on 12 October. 

Two days later, Phumelela “The Truth” Cafu, will challenge reigning WBO junior-bantamweight champion Kosei Tanaka in Tokyo, and Nathan says it will be a special moment to return home with two world champions in the Hotbox Gym.

"They're good friends and training hard together, they're also sparring partners, but I just think it doesn't matter where they're from, they're both South African and that's what makes it more intriguing," said Nathan.

"South African boxing will have two world champions coming back home on 15 October, so, yes, they are friends, they're training hard alongside each other and sparring hard with each other, but I think it's amazing for them as well."

Nontshinga is set to leave with his dad, Thembani Gopheni, Nathan, and Bernie Pailman next Thursday, before Cafu departs next Saturday, alongside Shannon Strydom, Boxing 5 Promotions head Larry Wainstein, and Mike Altamura. 

Nathan is happy with the focus he’s seen from both fighters ahead of what he terms “very tough world title bouts”.

"I want to get the wins first, and I'm focussed on the task at hand. I'm set on Nontshinga retaining his world championship, and I'm set on Cafu pulling off a massive upset, which I believe he can," added the trainer.

"Both fighters are focussed and they both know the magnitude of both contests respectively, [because] we're going up against two really credible fighters.

"Yabuki is a murderous puncher, a former WBC world champion, so it's not going to be an easy fight for Nontshinga, but I think I've got the better man.

"Equally, I think Tanaka will probably look at Phumelela, his record and experience, and think maybe he can be overlooked. 

"But with Tanaka being a four-weight world champion, I know we're rolling the dice, but I believe the gamble is going to pay off, and that's why I'm so excited and confident that both fighters will be victorious on 12 and 14 October." 

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