Filipino Christian Araneta (left) and Sevinathi Nontshinga (right) engaged in a fierce staredown during their mandatory medical checkup for their upcoming world title eliminator showdown. Note the South African’s fist almost touching the chin of the Filipino warrior.
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Omega Boxing Gym chief trainer Julius Erving Junco assures Filipino boxing fans that his prized ward, Christian “The Bomb” Araneta is in tip-top shape two days before the latter’s second world title eliminator bout versus African Sevinathi Nontshinga on April 24, 2021 (April 25 in Manila) in South Africa.
In an interview with CDN Digital, Junco said Araneta’s body clock has adjusted perfectly which is a good sign of his readiness for the crucial fight.
He also gave props to the promoters for giving them nice accommodation. Araneta and Junco are accompanied by Omega Sports Promotions chief Jerome Calatrava.
“Nindot kaayo among preparation kay aligned tanan. Naabot mi diri 15 days before sa fight plus nindot among accommodation. Ang weight namo nakuha namo on time kaayo. Nindot kaayo ang timing,” said Junco.
Araneta and Nontshinga faced each other for the first time last Wednesday, April 22, during their mandatory medical checkup and things got exciting when both boxers had a fierce staredown.
Nontshinga, who earlier threatened to break Araneta’s bones, teasingly puts his fists just an inch away from Araneta’s chin during their staredown.
In his Facebook post, Araneta said “Medical checkup raman unta dili paman unta ni weigh-in, excited sad ni siya da.”
The 25-year old Borbon town, north Cebu native already said that he is not at all intimidated by Nontshinga’s trash talks and ridiculous predictions. He said he remained focus on winning the bout.
Junco added that Araneta already went through a lot after his failed first world title eliminator that Nontshinga’s antics will not bother his boxer.
“Ang psywar di nana mo work namo, mas grabe pa to among na agian sa Mexico kay mas wild ang crowd dito. Di nana mo dulot namo,” Junco gamely said. “For the Filipino boxing fans, daugon jud ni namo para ninyo.”
Araneta lost his first world title eliminator to Mexican Daniel Valladares via fourth-round TKO after suffering a shoulder injury in Monterey, Mexico.
He has a record of 19 wins, one defeat, and 15 knockouts. Nontshinga, meanwhile has 9-0-0 (win-loss-draw) slate with 9 KOs. /rcg