All systems go for AC Promotions bonanza

It’s all systems go for AC Promotions’ boxing bonanza at the Roman Catholic Hall on Saturday night when Flame Nangolo will top the bill against Felix Ajom of Ghana for the WBO Africa super featherweight title. 

Nangolo won the WBA Africa super featherweight title in sensational style last September when he knocked out Peter Pambeni of Zimbabwe in the first round, and he is now determined to add the WBO Africa title according to promoter Immanuel Moses.

“Flame is in top shape and ready for the fight. His training in Las Vegas earlier this year where he sparred against top American boxers formed part of his preparations and now he is raring top go. He will be fighting for the WBO Africa super bantamweight title so a lot is at stake and a win will give him a top 15 ranking in the world,” he said yesterday. 

The 23-year-old Nangolo is still undefeated after 12 professional fights, but the 30-year-old Ghanaian will be a tough nut to crack. 

He has an impressive pro record of 20 wins, with 17 coming voa knock out), one draw and two defeats. His last defeat came in December 2018, but since then he has gone on an unbeaten run of nine fights, winning the Ghanaian super featherweight title in the process. 

Charles Shinima will be back in the ring after his recent defeat to Brandon Thysse of South Africa for the WBC silver welterweight title. That was Shinima’s second defeat in 22 pro fights, but he should be the strong favourite against Dickson Saidi of Malawi who has a mediocre record of six wins, eight losses and one draw. 

Moses, who earlier demanded a rematch against Thysse, said that Shinima had put the incident behind him. 

“Charles is looking good and has recovered from his controversial loss against Thysse. Everyone who saw the fight could see that Charles won the fight, but he has put that behind him and is determined to get back to winning ways.”

Harry Simon Junior will also be in action in a welterweight fight against Tranos Zihove of Zimbabwe. 

Simon is still unbeaten with a record of 22 wins and one draw, and will start as the favourite agaionst Zihove who has a patchy record of nine wins and five losses. 

Namibia’s former WBO Africa middleweight champion Walter Kautondokwa also makes a return after a break of more than five years when he takes on Liberty Muwani of Zimbabwe in a super middleweight fight. 

Kautondokwa, who built up an impressive record of 18 wins (17 by knockout) and two losses, hasn’t fought since October 2019, but he should be too strong for the Zimbabwean who has an unimpressive record of four wins and eight losses. 

There will be several more fights on the undercard while a packed crowd can be expected according to Moses. 

“The general tickets have already sold out so we are expecting a big crowd. We still have a few VIP tables available for N$15 000 per table of ten so I urge the corporates out there to come on board,” he said. 

The bonanza will also be the first pay per view boxing tournament in Namibia and Moses said interest is picking up. 

“It’s a new platform that we are trying out for the first time, which will give good exposure to Namibian boxers abroad. Interest is picking up and boxing fans can log on via our various social media platforms,” he said.