Young Namibian boxer impresses US actor

LIGHTWEIGHT boxer Danny-Boy Kashela made such a good impression at the last Sunshine Boxing Bonanza in Swakopmund that one of the main actors in the television miniseries ‘Generation Kill’ made plans to get him to New York to promote his boxing career.

Swakopmund’s Kashela (19), who started his professional boxing career at the beginning of this year, beat Walvis Bay lightweight Joseph Katenda on points at the boxing bonanza on June 30. That was Kashela’s second win in two fights.Actor Chance Kelly, who plays a Commanding Officer in ‘Generation Kill’ – partially filmed at the coast – told The Namibian that Kashela’s performance was very impressive and that the young boxer had a lot of potential.Kelly said it was apparent that boxing facilities and professional training were limited in Namibia, and therefore he wanted Kashela to go to New York for a year or two to develop his skills and enjoy international exposure.Kelly himself was an amateur boxer before he became involved in acting, and according to him, he is still an “ardent boxing junkie”.Besides offering Kashela opportunities to train with professionals at top-notch training facilities, Kelly also has contacts in the American entertainment industry that could help Kashela land roles in television or film productions.Kelly said he had in mind something like ‘Contender’ – a reality television series that follows a group of boxers as they compete in an elimination-style competition.He said Kashela’s story – being a young boxer from far-away Namibia – would also make a good story for international sports channels like ESPN.”There are very few youngsters who climb into the professional ring at the age of 19 and perform like Danny-Boy does.They only start blooming in their mid-twenties.He also has a great heart for boxing, and it’s that heart that can make him a winner, more than his actual skills,” Kelly told The Namibian.He said the earliest Kashela would be able to go to New York would be by the beginning of next year, since there would be a lot of paperwork to sort out.He promised to start getting investors together to finance the Namibian boxer’s stay in the United States, and said he would be “well looked after”.Kashela has been boxing since he was 15.He’s had 30 amateur fights and lost only three of them.sportThat was Kashela’s second win in two fights.Actor Chance Kelly, who plays a Commanding Officer in ‘Generation Kill’ – partially filmed at the coast – told The Namibian that Kashela’s performance was very impressive and that the young boxer had a lot of potential.Kelly said it was apparent that boxing facilities and professional training were limited in Namibia, and therefore he wanted Kashela to go to New York for a year or two to develop his skills and enjoy international exposure.Kelly himself was an amateur boxer before he became involved in acting, and according to him, he is still an “ardent boxing junkie”.Besides offering Kashela opportunities to train with professionals at top-notch training facilities, Kelly also has contacts in the American entertainment industry that could help Kashela land roles in television or film productions.Kelly said he had in mind something like ‘Contender’ – a reality television series that follows a group of boxers as they compete in an elimination-style competition.He said Kashela’s story – being a young boxer from far-away Namibia – would also make a good story for international sports channels like ESPN.”There are very few youngsters who climb into the professional ring at the age of 19 and perform like Danny-Boy does.They only start blooming in their mid-twenties.He also has a great heart for boxing, and it’s that heart that can make him a winner, more than his actual skills,” Kelly told The Namibian.He said the earliest Kashela would be able to go to New York would be by the beginning of next year, since there would be a lot of paperwork to sort out.He promised to start getting investors together to finance the Namibian boxer’s stay in the United States, and said he would be “well looked after”.Kashela has been boxing since he was 15.He’s had 30 amateur fights and lost only three of them.sport