Will lightning strike twice for IBF junior flyweight champion Adrian ‘Gatito’ Curiel 24-4-1 (5) or will former titleholder Sivenathi ‘Special One’ Nontshinga 12-1 (9) prove his second-round knockout loss to the light-hitting Mexican was a mere fluke?
The pair locked horns at the Casino de Monte Carlo Salle Medecin in Monaco, Monte Carlo on November 4 for the first time but the bout was over so quickly it was hard to know what to make of it.
Was the power of the 25-year-old Curiel grossly underrated? Or were there defensive flaws in South Africa’s Nontshinga, also 25, that previous opponents had failed to exploit?
Those are questions we should have answered by close of play tomorrow after the pair’s rematch at Auditorium Guelaguetza in Oaxaca, Mexico. The fight will be broadcast live on DAZN.
“It’s great to be here and a huge opportunity to defend my title. We have trained as champions, but we will go into the fight with a challenger mentality. It’s great to defend my belt on home soil. It was not a lucky shot or KO,” Curiel said.
“I’ve been watching interviews that he’s been giving and he says that I’m not a big puncher and I’m an easy fighter but he’ll see on Friday that as we say here, people need to back up what they say. So, we’ll see on Friday if that’s true.”
Nontshinga believes he simply had an off night in their first bout and has vowed to avenge his lone professional loss.
“My title looks good on him! It feels great to be here, it’s been a long time coming, I’ve been working so hard, and I will grab this opportunity with both hands. There will be a great atmosphere, I’ve met so many kind people here and I am looking forward to Friday night,” Nontshinga said.
“I’ve trained so hard. It’s not the first time I’ve prepared for a world title fight. I’ve been a champion before and I promise everybody that once again I will prevail.
“I believe falling down is part of life but getting back up is living, so once again, I will become a champion.”
“Our Mexican series of boxing always brings amazing nights and fights, and Friday will be the same. Thank you to the government here in Oaxaca and everyone involved for making this event possible,” Matchroom Boxing CEO Frank Smith said.
“It’s going to be an amazing night of fights and there’s a massive opportunity for some young fighters on the big stage live on DAZN ahead of the return of Mauricio Lara, who is always in exciting fights and we’re looking forward to the next phase of his career, and then we have the rematch.
“The first time in Monaco, Adrian surprised a lot of people. I don’t think people thought he had the power to do what he did, so Sive is here to change that story.
“I was in Mexico when Sive won the title and it’s probably the best fight I’ve ever seen in my life, a back and forth 12 rounds. If Sive can recreate that night and Adrian can do what he did in Monaco, we’re in for something special.”