Suganob sensed Nontshinga’s downfall before stunning KO
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Boholano boxing pride Regie “The Filipino Phenom” Suganob set his home province ablaze with a sensational fifth-round knockout of former two-time world champion and tormentor Sivenathi “The Special One” Nontshinga in their International Boxing Federation (IBF) world title eliminator showdown, the main event of “Kumong Bol-Anon 26” on September 12.
Fighting before his fellow Boholanos and carrying the colors of the PMI Bohol Boxing Stable, Suganob completed his long-awaited revenge against the South African who handed him his first professional defeat in their 2023 world title fight.
But even before Nontshinga hit the canvas, Suganob said he already sensed that his former tormentor was on the verge of getting decked.
READ: Tony Weeks returns to Philippines for Suganob-Nontshinga rematch
In his post-fight interview, Suganob revealed that he began feeling Nontshinga’s downfall after surviving a third-round knockdown scare and making crucial adjustments that turned the fight in his favor.
Suganob said Nontshinga employed essentially the same strategy he used in their first meeting in 2023, relying on his movement and circling to avoid Suganob’s power shots. This time, however, the Boholano was ready for it.
READ: IBF president Daryl Peoples to supervise Suganob-Nontshinga rematch
Having experienced Nontshinga’s movement firsthand in their first fight, Suganob anticipated which direction the South African would take and cut him off instead of chasing him around the ring.
Once he trapped Nontshinga in his preferred positions, Suganob unleashed a barrage of body shots and combinations, gradually taking away the former champion’s mobility and creating openings for his power punches.
READ: ‘Kumong Bol-Anon 26’: Suganob, Nontshinga promise wins on eve of rematch
Instead of relying heavily on his jabs, Suganob used hooks to the body and followed them up with combinations, forcing Nontshinga to abandon his usual circling strategy.
“Nag expect gyud ko ato nga matumba nako siya, ug mga fourth to fifth rounds. Pag round four, nibati na siya ug kasakit sa body shots. Dili na gani ko mo jab ato, naka ana ko nga kini mao nani, body shots na lang sa tiyan,” said Suganob.
(I really expected to knock him down around the fourth or fifth round. By the fourth round, he was already feeling the pain from my body shots. I didn’t even bother jabbing anymore. I thought, ‘This is it,’ so I just focused on hitting him with body shots.)
“Ang style man gud niya, sa left siya mo agi, kay huna-huna niya kusog akong right. Sauna jab ra man akong gigamit, so ni adjust ko ug hooks sa body, nibalhin siya ug gidaganan, so nakuha sa akong overhand, na nawong gyud ug solid.”
(His style was to move to the left because he thought my right hand was strong. Before, I was mostly using my jab, so I adjusted by throwing hooks to the body. He moved away and tried to escape, but he walked into my overhand right, which landed flush on his face.)
The adjustment paid off in spectacular fashion.
Suganob connected with successive right hands that repeatedly crashed into Nontshinga’s head in the fifth round, prompting referee Tony Weeks to immediately wave off the fight without bothering to make a count.
The knockout capped a remarkable comeback for the Boholano, who admitted that his eagerness to finish Nontshinga early nearly cost him the fight.
Suganob became too anxious to score the knockout and grew reckless, leaving himself open to Nontshinga’s right hook that sent him to the canvas in the third round.
“Tinuod nga gigil ko ato, murag naka huna-huna ko nga pareho ra sa South Africa nga sige ra ug dagan. Nang gigil kaayo ko, human nako pagkatumba gisultihan ko sa akong mga coaches nga relax lang, mohuwat ra na siya ug opportunity mo counter pud. Taas pa ang round, i sure lang gyud,” said Suganob.
(I was really fired up at that point. I thought it was going to be similar to the fight in South Africa, where he just kept running. I was so eager to attack. After I knocked him down, my coaches told me to just relax and wait because he would also look for an opportunity to counter. There were still a lot of rounds left, so I just had to make sure I stayed composed.)
Suganob listened to his corner, settled down and patiently executed his adjustments.
The result was a sweet revenge that not only erased the painful memory of his 2023 defeat but also put the pride of the PMI Bohol Boxing Stable back in position for another shot at a world championship.
Now 19-1 with eight knockouts, Suganob will turn his attention to the September 26 IBF world light flyweight title clash in Japan between reigning champion Thanongsak Simsri and fellow Filipino Mark Vicelles.
The winner could determine Suganob’s next step toward another world title opportunity.
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