The two met in South Africa for Nontshinga's IBF title in July 2023 and on that occasion the defending champion retained his title by hard fought but 12-round unanimous decision.

Since then, Suganob has rebuilt his career with five wins, while Nontshinga is no longer the champion.

Suganob and Nontshinga, who are rated No. 6 and No. 7 respectively by The Ring, are now primed to meet in an IBF eliminator on Saturday in Tagbilaran City, The Philippines.

"I've been waiting for this rematch since our first fight," Suganob (18-1, 7 KOs) told The Ring. "I worked hard to earn this opportunity again, and I'm excited to face him."

Having shared a ring with the South African, Suganob has some idea of what is awaiting him.

"Nontshinga is a very good fighter," he said. "He's fast, smart, and has a lot of experience. Our first fight taught me many lessons. Since then, I've improved my skills, my conditioning, and my mindset.

"I'm confident I'll perform much better this time. I respect Nontshinga, but I believe I'm a much better fighter now, and I'm ready to prove it."

Although the 28-year-old tasted defeat for the first time in that fight, he took several positives from it.

"It was the biggest fight of my career at that time, and it was a great learning experience," he said. "It showed me what I needed to improve, and it helped me grow as a fighter. I believe that experience has made me stronger."

It was also the first time as a professional that Suganob had to travel overseas, something he won't have to worry about this time as he'll be backed by the home crowd.

"The first fight was in South Africa, but I never made excuses about the result," he said. "This time, I'm happy to fight in front of my fellow Filipinos. Their support gives me extra motivation, but I know I still have to earn the victory inside the ring."

The winner will become the mandatory challenger for IBF titleholder Thanongsak Simsri, who will defend his title against Mark Vicelles on September 26.

"Right now, my full focus is on Nontshinga," he said. "He's the only opponent I'm thinking about.

"If I win, I'll be grateful for the chance to fight for the IBF world title. That has always been my dream, and I'm ready for that challenge when the time comes."

Nontshinga (14-2, 11 KOs) held on after being knocked down late against Cristian Araneta (UD 12) in an IBF eliminator. He edged past Hector Flores, claiming the vacant IBF title in Mexico and Suganob was his first defense.

The 27-year-old surprisingly lost his title via second-round knockout to Adrian Curiel, though scored a come-from-behind stoppage to regain it in an immediate rematch three months later.

He lost his title to Masamichi Yabuki in nine rounds in October 2024, and he has fought just once since then, a second-round stoppage of journeyman Sunday Kiwale on November 15.