Africans expected to back Indongo's fight

After much speculation Julius Indongo will go head-to-head with Terence Crawford of the US on 19 August in a unification fight for the super lightweight title, it was announced yesterday at a media briefing in Windhoek. It will be history in the making since it will be the first time that the super lightweight title will be unified and only the fourth time in the modern era that a unification title fight will take place. Indongo is urging all local sport fans as well as the whole of Africa to support his quest to floor Crawford in his home country. The boxer says he has a great team behind him, but that is not enough as he wants the whole African continent to back him up as he is doing this for Africa. “I am focused and will remain humble. I am preparing well and have removed myself from all social media in order to focus on the game plan. We know what we are going to do in America,” he said yesterday. His promoter, Nestor Tobias, said Indongo was a special ambassador for the country. “He is fighting for his country without expecting anything in return. This is going to be the biggest sporting event for the nation, so everyone should support in any way they can,” Tobias said. He added that his team did not fear a challenge and local boxers did not need to train overseas. “As long as they have the best team locally, they can make it,” he said. Tim Ekandjo from MTC, who was also present at the event, said the company was proud to be part of the history being made in Africa. “This fight is one of a kind, something that does not happen often. “The whole world will stand still to watch this fight because when Indongo wins he will be the first man to have five titles to his name,” he said. He added that they were negotiating with airlines in the hope of securing discounted air fare for boxing fans to watch the fight.Those who cannot fly to the United States will still have the chance to watch the fight live on television. Asked what Indongo needed from the nation, Ekandjo was quick to answer that Namibians always assumed that honouring someone should be in monetary form. “It does not always have to be so. Honour someone as you see fit. Our government can even give him a diplomatic passport as he is the potential undisputed champion of the world,” he said. Neither Ekandjo nor Tobias wanted to confirm the size of the purse, with Tobias saying that it is confidential. Indongo holds the WBA and IBF world titles while Crawford holds the WBO and WBC world titles. The fight will take place at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska, and 15 000 spectators are expected to fill the seats. Indongo has a record of 22 wins and 11 knockouts while Crawford has a record of 31 wins and 22 knockouts.LIMBA MUPETAMI

Africans expected to back Indongo's fight

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-21

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Africans expected to back Indongo's fight

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-21

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