The possibility of Sivenathi Nontshinga having to travel to Asia for his IBF junior-flyweight title defence is strong as negotiations are at an advanced stage despite last weekend’s deadline expiry.
The East London boxer was ordered by the IBF to fulfil his mandatory title defence obligations against Japanese former world champion Masamichi Yabuki, rated the second contender in the sanctioning body’s ratings.
The two parties were mandated to conclude negotiations by Friday last week, but the champion’s manager, Colin Nathan, said the talks were still ongoing.
“Things are moving nicely at a solid pace and anything is possible, with Asia as a likely venue,” he said.
Though the deadline has elapsed, with the IBF expected to call for purse bids to contest for the promotional rights for all its registered promoters, Nathan is confident that Nontshinga’s promoter, Matchroom Boxing, and Lush Midri Promotions, which represents Yabuki, will strike a deal to cancel out the auction.
Matchroom has several dates coming up in which it could feature the fight while the Japanese promoters are also looking to bring the fight to their country where bouts in lighter weight classes are popular.
Nathan, who has taken many of his fighters to Japan and returned with victories, said he was not concerned about going back with Nontshinga.
“There are several parties we are in talks with to make this contest and it could land in Japan,” he said.
Nathan is preparing for his other charge, Lerato Dlamini, to head back to Japan for his rematch against Tomoki Kameda, who he beat in October 2023.
They will now clash in an IBF featherweight title eliminator in Osaka on August 24, with the South African team expected to leave for Japan on August 15.
The contest has been overshadowed by controversy after two South African boxers, Bheki Maitse and John Paul Masamba, left to assist Kameda with sparring sessions, drawing criticism of being unpatriotic.
Nontshinga will vie for the first defence of the IBF title he won in a rematch against Mexican Adrian Curiel in February to avenge his November loss.
While Nontshinga has the distinct honour of being a two-time world champion, he will come up against a dangerous puncher in Yabuki, who has knocked out all but one of his 16 victims against four losses.
The 32-year-old is a former WBC champion having seized the belt from compatriot Kenshiro Teraji with a 10th-round stoppage in September 2021 before Teraji avenged the loss with a third-round knockout six months later.
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