UNDEFEATED prospect Regie Suganob attempts to become a world champion as he challenges International Boxing Federation (IBF) light flyweight titleholder Sivenathi Nontshinga on Sunday, July 2, 2023, at the ICC Centre in East London, South Africa.
Suganob is known for his technical boxing skills and he’ll use that as his main arsenal against Nontshinga.
“Our game plan is calculated boxing. The opportunity for a knockout is always there but we want to stick with our game plan, wear down Nontshinga and wait for him to make a mistake then go for the knockout,” PMI Boxing’s head Floriezyl Echavez Podot, Suganob’s handler, told SunStar Cebu.
Filipinos rarely come out victorious in South Africa against a South African in a title fight. However, Podot is confident the judges will give it to the rightful winner if the fight reaches a decision.
“Scoring points is Regie’s bread and butter in his fights. We are not also afraid of the officiating because the officials that are assigned are fair,” said Podot.
The judges assigned to this fight are Filipino Gil Co, South African Deon Dwarte and American Lisa Giampa.
The 25-year-old Suganob earned a world title shot after winning an eighth-round technical decision over fellow Pinoy Mark Vicelles in an IBF light flyweight title eliminator last Feb. 25 in Bohol.
On the other hand, the 24-year-old Nontshinga just won the vacant IBF light flyweight belt after a split-decision win over Hector Flores in Mexico.
Suganob is 13-0 with four knockouts, while Nontshinga is 11-0 with nine knockouts.
If victorious, Suganob joins World Boxing Association and International super bantamweight king Marlon Tapales as the country’s world champions. (EKA)