Rispel goes from extra to main attraction

Ruan Rispel may have become a boxer by chance, but his progress in the ring is not fortuitous.

After just eight fights in the paid ranks, the Okahandja native is set to headline the African Connection Boxing Promotions’ year-ending showcase against Josef Abel in a lightweight clash on 14 December in Windhoek.

Rispel’s rise to prominence mirrors the trajectory of AC Promotions, which has risen above its upstart status to become one of the country’s most relevant stables in a relatively short space of time.

Commitment and determination to excel are Rispel’s greatest assets, allowing his talent to shine through, says his mentor Immanuel ‘AC’ Moses.

A fitness freak, Rispel’s rise under the tutelage of Moses has been consistent rather than spectacular, racking up seven wins and a draw since debuting in 2021.

“The Okahandja community, they are looking up to him because they’ve seen him, how he’s been training hard for boxing. They never knew he can reach this stage where he can now go and headline the event,” Moses says of his protégé.

Should Rispel emerge from this fight unscathed, a shot at the national title will be the next step.

“He’s going to step up. Of course, he has to come out to make sure he’s ready before we give him a title shot because we take it one step at a time,” Moses says.

“Know that it starts from one fight to two fights, from four rounds to six rounds, six rounds to ten rounds, from national title to intercontinental title. You don’t just get to the top without going through the process. And that’s why we are taking Ruan, the same route as we took [WBA Pan-Africa champion] Flame ‘Special One’ Nangolo,” Moses explains.

Rispel, as his own biggest critic, is not pleased with how he performed in his previous fight, a topsy-turvy affair which ended in a draw with Denzel Silvanus on 14 September.

Juggling final exams at the Namibian Institute of Mining and Technology while preparing for the fight was taxing and partially to blame for an underwhelming display against Silvanus, Rispel says.

His latest opponent, Abel, appears unlikely to present much of a challenge, with a patchy record of four wins and five losses to date.

Nonetheless, Rispel is not taking him lightly and is keen to impress.

“He’s a tough and formidable opponent and I look forward to this test. This is a time for me to prove if I really belong in the sport of boxing,” Rispel says of his rival.

“December 14th is a big step up. It’s going to be one great night, if I’m going to take it up and really strive for greatness and achieve my dream, which is to become a world champion.

“Not just a world champion in one division, a multiple weight champion, but of course, we’re going to do it starting from the bottom, moving up all the way. I don’t want to get ahead of myself,” says Rispel.

AC Promotions’ upcoming bill will be a celebration of the strides they have made over this calendar year, Moses says.

“It’s going to be a black tie event, and the aim is to make sure we give back to the corporates, the companies, and fans that have been supporting us, just to show them our heartfelt gratitude for what they have been doing by investing in these youngsters,” Moses explains.

“It means a lot to Namibia, and they are playing a major role by contributing to keeping our youth out of the streets.”