Redemption men on Salute card

Nathanael ‘Natty’ Kakololo and Anthony Jarmann are looking to reinvent themselves in new weight classes after toiling in the lower categories for much of their careers.

Once touted as prospects destined for greatness, both have not lived up to the billing and are now closer to becoming journeymen than world beaters.

Former national welterweight champion Jarmann has lost five of his last ten fights by technical knockout at middleweight, super middleweight and cruiserweight.

Similarly, Kakololo has six defeats over the last ten fights between featherweight and lightweight.

However, they both believe they can turn their fortunes around and fight for titles again.

Their journey of redemption begins on the undercard of Abed Shikongo versus Alfeus Shaanika’s WBA Pan Africa welterweight title bill, promoted by the MTC Salute Boxing Academy in Windhoek on Saturday..

Jarmann, with six losses overall and a draw in 24 fights, is set to battle Johannes Nangolo in a heavyweight clash. A relative unknown, Nangolo has four fights to his name, winning two and losing the others.

“The training has been good, I’m satisfied with the training. Boxing is a passion. [The aim is] to get my profile [back on track], embark on some future fights,” said Jarmann, who wants results to speak for him.

Kakololo (14-7-2) will take on the boisterous Hedison ‘Bulelo’ Nghipondoka (5-7) in a welterweight showdown, the main supporting bout.

The two-time African Boxing Union featherweight champion is looking to end a five-fight winless streak that includes the WBC Silver featherweight strap points defeat to Briton Nick Ball in July 2022.

A year earlier, Kakololo lost out on the WBO Inter-Continental featherweight belt to Oleg Malinovskyi from the Ukraine.

Bulelo promised to extend Kakololo’s misery by knockout. However, Kakololo says Saturday’s opponent is all bark and no bite.

“That’s how I know him. And, he knows what he’s facing. He’s only talking because he wants to give himself energy. He knows that he’s facing, he provoked a lion,” says Kakololo.

Kakololo says winning the bout will be the first step to reviving his career following his string of defeats.

He claims to have been on the wrong side of a hometown decision when he lost to Russian Petr Vasilev in Moscow late last year.

“It was not a bad result, because they robbed me in Russia. So, it’s a good comeback for me. At first I was not interested in this fight. But my fans want me to beat him. So, I’m going to beat him for himself and for my fans,” Kakololo says.

The full card is as follows: Featherweight – Erasmus Hifivali v Paulus Fillipus; Lightweight – Alfeus Modino v Paulus Ipinge; Welterweight – Samuel Nande v Josef Ampeya; Tomas Ishidimbwa v Lazarus Heita; Bantamweight – Joiy Nangolo v Samwel Mwatumbange; Lightweight – David Shinuna v Immanuel Andeleki; Welterweight – Merven Nguno v Andreas Nghinaunye; Flyweight – Jonas Erastus v Luben Kandimba; Heavyweight – Anthony Jarmann v Johannes Nangolo; Welterweight – Nathanael Kakololo v Hedison Nghipondoka; Welterweight – Abed Shikongo v Alfeus Shaanika.