Adrian Curiel and Sivenathi Nontshinga face-off after the ultimate press convention forward of their rematch on February 16 at Auditorio Guelaguetza in Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico. Picture: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
Sivenathi Nontshinga rallied from his first professional loss by ralling from defeat in hid rematch with Adrian Curiel.
Nontshinga overcame a powerful begin by Curiel, dropping him as soon as en path to a come-from-behind knockout victory in Spherical 10 on Friday on the Auditorio Guelaguetza in Oaxaca, Mexico. Nontshinga, who resides in Reeston, South Africa, improved to 13-1, 9 knockouts and reclaimed the IBF junior flyweight title.
The conflict between Curiel and Nontshinga was a battle between top-10 junior flyweights. Getting into Friday’s battle, Curiel and Nontshinga have been rated No. 2 and 5, respectively, by The Ring.
From the opening bell, the shorter Curiel was the more practical and busier fighter, outboxing Nontshinga, who selected to alternate on the within with little success. Curiel discovered success touchdown uppercuts as the 2 have been within the pocket.
Undaunted, Nontshinga continued to battle on the within. Because the battle continued into the center rounds, Curiel would stroll Nontshinga again in opposition to the ropes, however Nontshinga did effectively in connecting his share of punches. Nonshinga lowered his heart of gravity, not permitting Curiel to land flush to the pinnacle.
Unbelievable show of energy and precision by Nontshinga!! 💥⚡️#CurielNontshinga | Dwell on https://t.co/FoiaUucI53 pic.twitter.com/A6wb8h5Omn
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) February 17, 2024
Early in Spherical 7, referee Mark Calo-oy deducted a degree from Nontshinga for main together with his head, though no warning was given earlier within the battle for earlier cases of that foul. Regardless of the infraction, Nontshinga continued to battle in shut.
A couple of minute into Spherical 8, Nontshinga discovered paydirt from distance, gorgeous Curiel with a mixture to the pinnacle of Curiel. Nontshinga adopted up, connecting extra, particularly to Curiel’s physique. Curiel’s punch output started to drop. Sensing Curiel was tiring, Nontshinga dug extra left and proper palms to the physique, following up with hooks to the pinnacle.
Moments into Spherical 10, a mixture nearly dropped Curiel to the canvas. Curiel tried to battle again, however Nontshinga battered Curiel with combos. Later within the spherical, a proper hand harm Curiel, prompting Nontshinga to observe up with a barrage of punches, prompting referee Mark Calo-oy to manage a standing eight-round. After the motion resumed, one other barrage of punches compelled Calo-oy to cease the battle at 44 seconds.
Unbelievable show of energy and precision by Nontshinga!! 💥⚡️#CurielNontshinga | Dwell on https://t.co/FoiaUucI53 pic.twitter.com/A6wb8h5Omn
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) February 17, 2024
The victory occurred over three months after Curiel, a +800 underdog, scored a surprising one-punch knockout win over Nontshinga.
“Once I misplaced the title, I cried, however I bought the rematch,” mentioned Nontshinga, who’s promoted by Eddie Hearn and skilled by Colin Nathan. “I used to be working actually onerous within the health club for this second. He’s boxer, however I’ve confronted higher opponents than him.”
Nontshinga received the vacant IBF title in September 2022, defeating Hector Flores by thrilling split-decision. He made a protection of the IBF title on July 2, defeating Regie Suganob by unanimous determination.
Curiel, who resides in Mexico Metropolis, falls to 24-5-1, 5 KOs.
Within the co-feature, former WBA featherweight titleholder Mauricio Lara fought to a majority determination draw in opposition to Daniel Lugo. One decide scored the bout 96-95 for Lugo, whereas the opposite two judges scored the bout 95-95.
Friday was Lara’s debut at 130 kilos, but it surely didn’t go as deliberate. Lara was efficient early on, however Lugo started connecting to the pinnacle and physique because the battle progressed. Lugo outboxed Lara in the course of the center rounds, outhustling Lara throughout a number of exchanges.
Each fighters surprised one another in spherical six, however Lugo continued to attach, probably successful rounds seven and eight. Sensing he was down on the scorecards, Lara got here on over the last two rounds, connecting extra to the pinnacle and physique.
Lara and Lugo commerce blows in AN ELECTRIFYING SHOWDOWN ⚡
Tune in now, dwell on https://t.co/FoiaUucI53 #CurielNontshinga2 pic.twitter.com/p6EfsT87p1
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) February 17, 2024
Lara (26-3-2, 19 KOs), who resides in Mexico Metropolis, had not fought since shedding the WBA featherweight title to Leigh Wooden on Might 27.
Lugo, who resides in Hermosillo, Mexico, falls to 27-2-1, 18 KOs, snapping a three-fight successful streak.
In junior featherweight motion, Arturo Cardenas of Sahuayo de Morelos, Mexico defeated Ernesto Garcia Flores (11-4, 10 KOs) by unanimous determination. Scores have been 98-91, 98-91, and 100-88 for Cardenas, who improved to 13-0-1, 8 KOs.
Garcia was recreation early on, combating together with his entrance foot ahead and discovering success on the within, even hurting Cardenas momentarily within the third spherical. Cardenas’ extra correct punches and assault to the physique weakened Garcia, who was dropped late in spherical seven by a mixture to the pinnacle.
Cardenas, who’s skilled by Robert Garcia, continued battering Garcia, however was content material to outbox Garcia in the course of the ultimate spherical to safe the victory.
Within the opening spherical that streamed dwell on DAZN, featherweight Sergio Chirino (22-1, 13 KOs of close by Santa Lucia del Camino dropped Dennis Contreras twice en path to a second spherical knockout victory.
Close to the tip of spherical one, a proper hand dropped Contreras to the canvas. Contreras was in a position to beat the rely and make it out of the spherical however continued to take punishment into spherical two. Halfway by way of the spherical, a left hook to the physique dropped Contreras to the canvas. Contreras’ nook threw within the towel, prompting referee Emigdo Nicholas to cease the battle at 1:44.
Contrera, who resides in Guadalajara, Mexico, has misplaced his final 4 fights, dropping to 24-14-1, 22 KOs.
Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has coated boxing in Southern California and overseas since 2000. Francisco additionally covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He will be reached at [email protected]
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