Ambunda triumphant

Paulus Ambunda proved that he still has what it takes when he put up a spectacular performance in Singapore on Saturday.
Jesse Kauraisa
JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA



Namibia's Paulus Ambunda shon as he beat Muhamad Ridhwan after split-decision in Singapore on Saturday.

Local professional boxer Muhamad Ridhwan suffered the first defeat of his pro career when he lost an International Boxing Organisation (IBO) super bantamweight (up to 55kg) world title on Saturday night at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre.

The 30-year-old was bested by Namibia's Paulus Ambunda via split decision after going the full 12 rounds with the experienced fighter.

Prior to the fight, Ambunda boasted a record of 26 wins and just two losses.

The 38-year-old is a former IBO and World Boxing Organisation world champion, and was the toughest test in Ridhwan's burgeoning career.

Ridhwan had 11 wins in 11 fights before last the fight.

Paulus Natangwe 'The Rock' Ambunda is guided by a remarkable sense of humour and a disciplined approach to life.

His friendly smile and shyness when speaking in front of the camera is just another part of him that hides the tremendous deadly punch and speed he has when in the ring.

The talented boxer was born on a windy day at the Omusimboti village east of Oshakati in August, 38 years ago.

When he was a child, boxing for Ambunda was something he only used to hear over the radio, but never had an interest in.

Ambunda started school in 1986 at Omusimboti Combined School where football was much more popular than boxing.

He enjoyed playing football on the dusty fields of his home village with his young friends while they were supposed to be herding cattle.

His life took a turn for the better in 1994 when he decided to make the great trek from the north to Windhoek. Coming to Windhoek meant that the boxer had access to television and that is how his interest in boxing grew.

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Namibian Sun 2024-05-09

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Premier League: Crystal Palace 4 vs 0 Manchester United SerieA: Udinese 1 vs 1 Napoli | Salernitana 1 vs 2 Atalanta Katima Mulilo: 13° | 33° Rundu: 14° | 33° Eenhana: 15° | 34° Oshakati: 17° | 34° Ruacana: 19° | 35° Tsumeb: 17° | 32° Otjiwarongo: 15° | 31° Omaruru: 19° | 33° Windhoek: 15° | 29° Gobabis: 16° | 30° Henties Bay: 15° | 18° Wind speed: 21km/h, Wind direction: S, Low tide: 10:06, High tide: 04:02, Low Tide: 22:18, High tide: 16:30 Swakopmund: 15° | 17° Wind speed: 25km/h, Wind direction: SW, Low tide: 10:04, High tide: 04:00, Low Tide: 22:16, High tide: 16:28 Walvis Bay: 15° | 21° Wind speed: 28km/h, Wind direction: SW, Low tide: 10:04, High tide: 03:59, Low Tide: 22:16, High tide: 16:27 Rehoboth: 18° | 30° Mariental: 22° | 32° Keetmanshoop: 18° | 32° Aranos: 20° | 32° Lüderitz: 12° | 22° Ariamsvlei: 16° | 31° Oranjemund: 10° | 18° Luanda: 25° | 27° Gaborone: 14° | 29° Lubumbashi: 15° | 28° Mbabane: 14° | 30° Maseru: 11° | 26° Antananarivo: 11° | 22° Lilongwe: 16° | 27° Maputo: 17° | 31° Windhoek: 15° | 29° Cape Town: 13° | 16° Durban: 20° | 33° Johannesburg: 17° | 25° Dar es Salaam: 23° | 30° Lusaka: 15° | 28° Harare: 13° | 27° Currency: GBP to NAD 23.1 | EUR to NAD 19.88 | CNY to NAD 2.56 | USD to NAD 18.53 | DZD to NAD 0.14 | AOA to NAD 0.02 | BWP to NAD 1.31 | EGP to NAD 0.38 | KES to NAD 0.14 | NGN to NAD 0.01 | ZMW to NAD 0.67 | ZWL to NAD 0.04 | BRL to NAD 3.64 | RUB to NAD 0.2 | INR to NAD 0.22 | USD to DZD 134.5 | USD to AOA 834.06 | USD to BWP 13.64 | USD to EGP 47.3 | USD to KES 130.48 | USD to NGN 1404.8 | USD to ZAR 18.53 | USD to ZMW 27.25 | USD to ZWL 321 | Stock Exchange: JSE All Share Index 77177.44 Up +0.32% | Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX) Overall Index 1714.65 Down -0.07% | Casablanca Stock Exchange (CSE) MASI 13418.67 Up +0.32% | Egyptian Exchange (EGX) 30 Index 25988.93 Down -1.67% | Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) DCI Same 0 | NSX: MTC 7.75 SAME | Anirep 8.99 SAME | Capricorn Investment group 17.34 SAME | FirstRand Namibia Ltd 49 DOWN 0.50% | Letshego Holdings (Namibia) Ltd 4.1 UP 2.50% | Namibia Asset Management Ltd 0.7 SAME | Namibia Breweries Ltd 31.49 UP 0.03% | Nictus Holdings - Nam 2.22 SAME | Oryx Properties Ltd 12.1 UP 1.70% | Paratus Namibia Holdings 11.99 SAME | SBN Holdings 8.45 SAME | Trustco Group Holdings Ltd 0.48 SAME | B2Gold Corporation 47.34 DOWN 1.50% | Local Index closed 677.62 UP 0.12% | Overall Index closed 1534.6 DOWN 0.05% | Osino Resources Corp 19.47 DOWN 2.41% | Commodities: Gold US$ 2 307.88/OZ DOWN -0.0004 | Copper US$ 4.50/lb DOWN -0.0007 | Zinc US$ 2 887.90/T DOWN -0.8% | Brent Crude Oil US$ 84.69/BBP UP +0.47% | Platinum US$ 980.49/OZ UP +0.65% Sport results: Premier League: Crystal Palace 4 vs 0 Manchester United SerieA: Udinese 1 vs 1 Napoli | Salernitana 1 vs 2 Atalanta Weather: Katima Mulilo: 13° | 33° Rundu: 14° | 33° Eenhana: 15° | 34° Oshakati: 17° | 34° Ruacana: 19° | 35° Tsumeb: 17° | 32° Otjiwarongo: 15° | 31° Omaruru: 19° | 33° Windhoek: 15° | 29° Gobabis: 16° | 30° Henties Bay: 15° | 18° Wind speed: 21km/h, Wind direction: S, Low tide: 10:06, High tide: 04:02, Low Tide: 22:18, High tide: 16:30 Swakopmund: 15° | 17° Wind speed: 25km/h, Wind direction: SW, Low tide: 10:04, High tide: 04:00, Low Tide: 22:16, High tide: 16:28 Walvis Bay: 15° | 21° Wind speed: 28km/h, Wind direction: SW, Low tide: 10:04, High tide: 03:59, Low Tide: 22:16, High tide: 16:27 Rehoboth: 18° | 30° Mariental: 22° | 32° Keetmanshoop: 18° | 32° Aranos: 20° | 32° Lüderitz: 12° | 22° Ariamsvlei: 16° | 31° Oranjemund: 10° | 18° Luanda: 25° | 27° Gaborone: 14° | 29° Lubumbashi: 15° | 28° Mbabane: 14° | 30° Maseru: 11° | 26° Antananarivo: 11° | 22° Lilongwe: 16° | 27° Maputo: 17° | 31° Windhoek: 15° | 29° Cape Town: 13° | 16° Durban: 20° | 33° Johannesburg: 17° | 25° Dar es Salaam: 23° | 30° Lusaka: 15° | 28° Harare: 13° | 27° Economic Indicators: Currency: GBP to NAD 23.1 | EUR to NAD 19.88 | CNY to NAD 2.56 | USD to NAD 18.53 | DZD to NAD 0.14 | AOA to NAD 0.02 | BWP to NAD 1.31 | EGP to NAD 0.38 | KES to NAD 0.14 | NGN to NAD 0.01 | ZMW to NAD 0.67 | ZWL to NAD 0.04 | BRL to NAD 3.64 | RUB to NAD 0.2 | INR to NAD 0.22 | USD to DZD 134.5 | USD to AOA 834.06 | USD to BWP 13.64 | USD to EGP 47.3 | USD to KES 130.48 | USD to NGN 1404.8 | USD to ZAR 18.53 | USD to ZMW 27.25 | USD to ZWL 321 | Stock Exchange: JSE All Share Index 77177.44 Up +0.32% | Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX) Overall Index 1714.65 Down -0.07% | Casablanca Stock Exchange (CSE) MASI 13418.67 Up +0.32% | Egyptian Exchange (EGX) 30 Index 25988.93 Down -1.67% | Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) DCI Same 0 | NSX: MTC 7.75 SAME | Anirep 8.99 SAME | Capricorn Investment group 17.34 SAME | FirstRand Namibia Ltd 49 DOWN 0.50% | Letshego Holdings (Namibia) Ltd 4.1 UP 2.50% | Namibia Asset Management Ltd 0.7 SAME | Namibia Breweries Ltd 31.49 UP 0.03% | Nictus Holdings - Nam 2.22 SAME | Oryx Properties Ltd 12.1 UP 1.70% | Paratus Namibia Holdings 11.99 SAME | SBN Holdings 8.45 SAME | Trustco Group Holdings Ltd 0.48 SAME | B2Gold Corporation 47.34 DOWN 1.50% | Local Index closed 677.62 UP 0.12% | Overall Index closed 1534.6 DOWN 0.05% | Osino Resources Corp 19.47 DOWN 2.41% | Commodities: Gold US$ 2 307.88/OZ DOWN -0.0004 | Copper US$ 4.50/lb DOWN -0.0007 | Zinc US$ 2 887.90/T DOWN -0.8% | Brent Crude Oil US$ 84.69/BBP UP +0.47% | Platinum US$ 980.49/OZ UP +0.65%