Powerful Heita marches on 

Mateus ‘The Beast’ Heita won the vacant WBA Pan African featherweight title in style with a third round knockout of South Africa’s Thato Bonokoane on Saturday night. 

Fighting in front of a packed crowd at the Windhoek Country Club, Heita started off slowly, seizing his opponent up, while Bonokoane constantly jabbed and moved.

Heita, however, landed some big blows by the end of the first round and when he caught Bonokoane with another barrage in the second, it was clear that his punches were starting to take effect. 

By the third round Heita was well in control, and after tiring his opponent with some body shots, the end came swiftly. 

He first buckled Bonokoane’s legs with a hook to the head and then sent Bonokoane to the canvas with a right hook to the head. Bonokoane dropped to his knees, but it was clear that he had had enough and failed to get up as the referee counted him out, two minutes and five seconds into the round. 

It was Heita’s 12th consecutive win as a pro, while it was Bonokoane’s seventh defeat in 24 fights. 

The South African was a gracious loser, congratulating Heita on the win, and adding that he had no answer to his power, while he also indicated that he might consider retiring. 

“I just don’t have that drive anymore, I’ll let these young guys continue now. Ive been doing this sport for 14 years now, but I’m happy and proud of myself,” he said.  

Heita, meanwhile, said he was determined to win. 

“It was a second chance for me, it was a do-or-die situation, I had to win, so I did what I do best,” he said, adding that he was aiming for higher honours now. 

“I want to fight the best, I want to fight on a bigger stage.”

Heita’s trainer Nester Tobias said they are aiming for a world title fight within a year. 

“Boxing is a process, you have to go step by step, but our aim is to fight for the world title. But you cannot go for the world title if you dont go through this process, to get into the top 15 or top 10. This fight was very important for the Beast because now he will improve his world rating, so we will push for the world title and by this time next year he can be world champion,” he said. 

In the main supporting bout Jeremiah Nakathila comfortably beat his namesake Jeremiah Mhire of Zimbabwe on a sixth round knockout in a lightweight fight. 

Nakathila came out swinging from the start and although he missed the target a lot at first, he soon started to take control. 

Mhere, to his credit, went toe-to-toe at times, but once Nakathila’s shots started to land it was clear that the fight wouldn’t go the distance. 

By the fourth round Nakathila put Mhere down for the count of eight, and after landing some big body shots in the fifth, he sent him crashing to the canvas after only 28 seconds of the sixth round. 

Nakathila’s pro record now stands at 25 wins and four defeats, while Mhere’s record is 10 wins and six losses.

The other results were as follows:

Martin Mukungu beat David Shinuna on a fifth round technical knockout in a junior lightweight fight. 

Jonathan Kasheta beat Nestor Thomas on a split decision in a bantamweight fight. 

Erastus Shapaka beat Tobias Amunyela on a unanimous points decision in a super flyweight fight. 

John Shitilifa beat Sam Mathews on a first round knockout in a featherweight fight. 

Jonas Jonas beat Nestor Amukhoto on a split decision in a welterweight fight. 

Paulus Iipinge beat Tangeni Salomon on points in a lightweight fight. 

Jonas Lukas beat Martin Kampuka on a knockout in a lightweight fight. 

Pieter Cotze and Phillipus Shikongo drew in an amateur fight over three rounds.