Grudge rematch in Bohol

There’s a storm brewing in Tagbilaran City and weather conditions are expected to be turbulent in the ring when hometowner Regie Suganob battles former two-time IBF lightflyweight champion Sivenathi Nontshinga of South Africa in a 12-round grudge rematch at the Bohol Wisdom School gym this Saturday. It’s a world title eliminator and the winner gets a crack at the throne where Thai Thanongsak Simsri now sits.

Philippine Maritime Institute (PMI) Boxing Promotions head Atty. Floriezyl Podot has assembled a blockbuster card with IBF president Daryl Peoples acting as supervisor and renowned referee Tony Weeks working the main event. Three IBF regional championship fights will precede the Suganob-Nontshinga tussle in the 26th edition of PMI’s Kumong Bol-anon boxing series.

The No. 1 and No. 2 slots are vacant in the IBF’s 108-pound ratings. Suganob, 29, is No. 3 and Nontshinga, 27, is No. 4. Thanongsak is slated to stake his crown against Filipino Mark Vicelles in Shizuoka, Japan, on Sept. 26 so the survivor will meet Suganob or Nontshinga.

Suganob has a score to settle with the South African. In 2023, Suganob was dealt his only pro loss by Nontshinga in East London, South Africa, in an IBF lightflyweight title tiff. Nontshinga won via a unanimous decision. Suganob has since notched five victories in a row, three by KO, to raise his record to 18-1, with seven KOs. Nontshinga is coming off a second round disposal of Tanzanian Sunday Kiwale last November. He had a 12-0 start in his pro career then lost two in his next four outings. Nontshinga’s record is 14-2, with 11 KOs. The Bohol rematch will be Nontshinga’s fifth bout outside of South Africa after two wins in Mexico and a loss each in Monaco and Japan. Suganob has fought only once overseas but has defeated opponents from South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, Japan and Indonesia.

For Suganob, it’s not only a chance for payback but also a golden opportunity to seal another title crack. For Nontshinga, he’s looking to book a ticket for a shot at a third reign in the same division, a rare feat in boxing.

On the undercard, unbeaten Cotabato del Norte slugger Datu Adam engages Indonesia’s Oky Akbar for the vacant IBF Asia junior featherweight title, Reymart (Cebuano Assassin) Tagacanao faces China’s Chunlin Kuang for the IBF Asia junior bantamweight crown and undefeated IBF Asia flyweight champion Leonard Pores puts his belt on the line against Indonesian veteran Andika (D’ Golden Boy) Fredikson Ha’e.

Peoples has supervised fights involving some of boxing’s greatest names including Manny Pacquiao (against Jorge Julio in Memphis and Fahprakorb Rakkiatgym in Davao City, both in 2002), Naoya Inoue, Canelo Alvarez, Tyson Fury and Lennox Lewis. Weeks, 70, has been a referee since 1994 and was the third man in the ring when Pacquiao defeated Marco Antonio Barrera in 2007, Oscar de la Hoya in 2008, Juan Manuel Marquez in 2011 and Tim Bradley in 2016.