Boxing fans in for free triple treat 

Boxing fans will be in for a treat on 12 April when the MTC Nestor Sunshine Academy hosts the Tribute to Founding President Dr Sam Nujoma Boxing Bonanza at the Ramatex Hall.

Namibia’s top boxing prospects Fillipus ‘Energy’ Nghitumbwa, Matheus “Beast” Heita and Paulinus “Jon Jon” Ndjolonimus will all defend their WBO Africa titles, but the best of all is that entrace will be free of charge for the general public. 

At yesterday’s launch promoter Nestor Tobias said the bonanza will be in honour of former president Nujoma. 

“Every time we went out to fight for a world title we would go to his office for blessings and when we came back it was tradition to go and present the belt to him as a way of showing appreciation,” he said. 

“This event is therefore in his honour and that is why we have all three of our world rated boxers on the card to make sure that boxing fans watch world class boxing. We also wish to advise that general tickets will be free while VIP tables will be sold for N$20 000 seating 10 people including meals and drinks,” he added. 

Ndjolonimus will defend his WBO Africa super middleweight title against Snamiso Ntuli of South Africa. 

Ndjolonimus has a much better record as he is currently ranked fourth in the world by the WBO and is still undefeated after 19 fights of which 17 came via knockout. 

He was knocked out in his last fight by Patrick Mukala of the DRC in December, but Tobias said that it didn’t affect his record since it was only an exhibition fight. 

Ndjolonimus said he was working hard in the gym.

“We are in the gym busy doing our job with our coaches Nicky Natangwa, and SBK Kaperu who are keeping us busy – we are always correcting our mistakes and polishing where we need to polish,” he said.

“I am rated number four in the world by the WBO so I want to work hard and reach the top,” he added. 

Nghitumbwa, who is ranked ninth in the world by the WBO, will defend his WBO Africa super bantamweight title against Hassan Milanzi of Zimbabwe. 

The two boxers both have 17 professional fights, but Nghitumbwa has a slightly better record with 15 wins and two losses, while Milanzi has 13 wins, three losses and one draw. 

Since a controversial defeat to John Riel Casimero of the Phillipines two years ago, Nghitumbwa has won his last three fights and yesterday said 

“I’ve been working hard to improve my mistakes – I’ve been learning every single day, because I want to reach the top and if you want to be on top you need to work hard,” he said. 

“I’m currently number nine in the world on the WBO rankings and number 12 on the WBC rankings, but it’s not easy because there are a lot of boxers out there,” he added. 

“Every fight is a big fight for me now and there’s no time to play around anymore, so I want to make sure that I win every single fight that I fight from now on,” he said. 

Mateus “Beast” Heita will defend his WBO Africa featherweight title against Abdulaziz Kunert of South Africa. 

Heita is still unbeaten after 14 fights while Kunert has a record of 12 wins, three losses and one draw. 

Heita said the fight was personal. 

“Our founding father fought for this country for our independence so I’ll fight like our father fought for this country. So it will be a bit personal but come the 12th of April I’ll shine like always,” he said.