Simon Sr was a remarkable boxer
When I was growing up, I used to hear the tale of Harry Simon Sr and how good of a boxer he was. I never really got to watch him fight live because I was a very young child when he was in his prime.
In his previous interviews, Simon Sr said he started fighting at the age of 10. When he faced an older boxer, 20 years his senior, he beat him up and was given an orange as a trophy.
When those who have had the opportunity to witness his prowess tell of it, one can only listen in awe. Simon Sr is a two-weight world champion, having held the WBO junior middleweight title from 1998 to 2001 and the WBO middleweight title in 2002.
Thirty-one undefeated fights is no joke – to think that he fought some of the best boxers in his prime: the likes of America’s Danny Chavez in 1995, Winky Wright in 1998, and Kevin Lueshing in 1999 – Simon Sr was certainly in his prime. Dominating his opponents with speed and power.
When I see the records Simon Sr has, I can't help but wonder what kind of boxer he would have been if he were to fight in this era?
Those are just thoughts; I know, of course, that there is a past and a future. When one speaks to some of the current crop of boxers now, they attribute their involvement in the game to Simon Sr; he laid the foundation for most.
Most boxers grew up watching or hearing about the Namibian great. Simon Sr has really done a lot for the sport. Because of him, people from all across the world have heard about Namibia, wondering who this wonder kid was who was knocking out highly-ranked boxers both in lifestyle and economically.
Simon Sr didn’t care where he came from. What he knew was how to silence his opponents. His confidence was on another level, and I think a lot of boxers of this generation don’t have that – the self-belief that the stage is for everyone.
Simon Sr showed that you can fight your way out of poverty.
Yes, he has made mistakes in the past. I believe his greatest mistakes were made outside of the ring. But we must give him his flowers. He was the best, and our wish is that he can still offer much to the industry and that one day we can see another phenomenal boxer such as him.
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In his previous interviews, Simon Sr said he started fighting at the age of 10. When he faced an older boxer, 20 years his senior, he beat him up and was given an orange as a trophy.
When those who have had the opportunity to witness his prowess tell of it, one can only listen in awe. Simon Sr is a two-weight world champion, having held the WBO junior middleweight title from 1998 to 2001 and the WBO middleweight title in 2002.
Thirty-one undefeated fights is no joke – to think that he fought some of the best boxers in his prime: the likes of America’s Danny Chavez in 1995, Winky Wright in 1998, and Kevin Lueshing in 1999 – Simon Sr was certainly in his prime. Dominating his opponents with speed and power.
When I see the records Simon Sr has, I can't help but wonder what kind of boxer he would have been if he were to fight in this era?
Those are just thoughts; I know, of course, that there is a past and a future. When one speaks to some of the current crop of boxers now, they attribute their involvement in the game to Simon Sr; he laid the foundation for most.
Most boxers grew up watching or hearing about the Namibian great. Simon Sr has really done a lot for the sport. Because of him, people from all across the world have heard about Namibia, wondering who this wonder kid was who was knocking out highly-ranked boxers both in lifestyle and economically.
Simon Sr didn’t care where he came from. What he knew was how to silence his opponents. His confidence was on another level, and I think a lot of boxers of this generation don’t have that – the self-belief that the stage is for everyone.
Simon Sr showed that you can fight your way out of poverty.
Yes, he has made mistakes in the past. I believe his greatest mistakes were made outside of the ring. But we must give him his flowers. He was the best, and our wish is that he can still offer much to the industry and that one day we can see another phenomenal boxer such as him.
[email protected]
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