Nonina takes jab at Fortuin
NEWLY-crowned WBF world female bantamweight champion Bukiwe Nonina has torn onto her rival WBA International champion Sharoddene Fortuin accusing her of seeking publicity at her expense.
Nonina was commenting after capturing the WBF world title with a dominant points win over highly experienced German Alesia Graf at OR Tambo Hall in Khayelitsha at the weekend.
The win installed her as the first ever world champion from the sleepy Eastern Cape town of Dutywa, better known as the birthplace of former state president Thabo Mbeki.
Despite beating a boxer of 34 bouts with only five defeats, Nonina’s win is still frowned upon especially in East London where fans feel she needs to give Fortuin a rematch.
The pair fought in 2013 in Gauteng with Nonina sneaking through with a points decision to retain her SA bantamweight title.
That fight still haunts Fortuin up to this day.
Fortuin went on to win the IBO title by beating Argentinean Maria Magdalena Rivera two years later before relinquishing it to pursue a more recognisable WBA crown for which she now holds its international title.
She still feels she was robbed against Nonina.
“Ever since that fight we have been chasing her for a rematch going as far as breaking the bank for her to accept the rematch to no avail,” said Fortuin.
However, Nonina accepted a rematch for Graf even saying she was prepared to travel to Germany.
But she would hear none about doing the same for Fortuin whom she dismisses as “a desperate girl seeking attention at my expense”.
“I beat this girl fair and square and ever since then she has done nothing to warrant a rematch with me,” she charged.
“All she has been doing is to call my name whenever she sees journalists.”
Nonina even accused Fortuin of becoming a champion due to biased East London officials.
“She was given her so-called world title due to favouritism of East London officials otherwise she did not beat that Argentinean woman”
Nonina was contacted to face Fortuin to fill the gap left by Free State boxer Matshidiso Mokebisi when she withdrew from her clash against Fortuin in August last year.
This after Nonina’s own fight against a Hungarian opponent was cancelled at the 11th-hour due to lack of funds.
But she refused to take the fight, opting to defend her SA bantamweight title for which she made history by retaining it five times.
She said if Fortuin fought her it would be the end of her career.
“If she wants to retire in boxing while she is still young then tell her to come.
“Look, I beat a multi world champion in Graf so anyone with two eyes can see that I belong to another level than the likes of Fortuin,” she said.
Nonina, who goes by the “Anaconda” moniker, added that the fact that she even beat Fortuin for the female boxer of the year at the recent boxing awards in Durban where she was nominated alongside her and Leighandre Jegels was further proof that her superior achievements.