Bringing pizzazz to the ring
Upcoming professional boxer Vakufilapo ‘Cowboy’ Willem has bigger dreams in his boxing career and wants to emulate Namibia’s undefeated Harry Simon’s skills.
In a rise of events, young and vibrant Vakufilapo ‘Cowboy’ Willem returned to boxing after being grounded by other commitments and in a year, he already has two knockouts under his name.
‘Cowboy’ as he is well known in boxing circles, only returned to boxing in 2015, with a plan to make it to the 2016 Olympic Games but his plan never saw the light of the day and he decided to go professional.
Speaking to Sport Wrap recently, Willem said he started boxing at the tender age of nine and started to compete the age of 10. But, because the love for the game runs through his veins, he could not stay away from it and continued competing. However, in 2007 he took a break to go and further his studies.
Willem, an electrical engineer by profession came back home from South Africa where he was studying to look for a job and due to his busy work schedule he was unable to continue with boxing again.
“When I came back I had to work, but later I decided to start my own company and because I always had boxing at heart, I decided to come back because I had more time than before.
“In 2015 is when I came back but was not so active and got some amateur fights and only last year, I was targeting the Olympics but when we wanted to try, the qualifying games where over so that did not materialise. I then got an idea of turning professional and had my first fight in September and won in the second round, so was my second fight in December and I won both by knockouts,” he said.
He said when he came back, most of his mates had surpassed his level but after winning the two professional fights, he is confident that the future looks bright for him.
“I know there is so much potential in me and I have a talent and believe there is nobody better than me. I feel that I am the best and hope I will be Namibia’s next champion,” he said confidently.
The upcoming professional boxer who has a contract with the Salute Boxing Academy said he has been in contact with his promoter and hopes more boxing opportunities will be presented to him this year.
“I want to have as many fights as I can and I have been in touch with my promoter. So, hopefully by April I will have my third fight, because my training sessions have already kicked off and I hope to win all my fights this year,” he said.
Willem is a junior middleweight professional boxer, with an unbeaten record throughout his boxing career.
He holds an impressive record of 21 junior fights, 42 amateur fights, and two professional bouts.
He is inspired by Harry Simon and the former world champion Floyd “Money” Mayweather, and dreams to be Namibia's next champion.
“I would want to be rated the best pound for pound in the near future, and I would like to also win world titles like the likes of Harry Simon, Julius Indongo, Paulus ‘The Hitman’ Moses, Paulus ‘The Rock’ Ambunda, and Tyson Uushona.
“I believe in my God given talent and sees myself as the most potential and promising boxer Namibia has,” he said.
KAINO NGHITONGO
‘Cowboy’ as he is well known in boxing circles, only returned to boxing in 2015, with a plan to make it to the 2016 Olympic Games but his plan never saw the light of the day and he decided to go professional.
Speaking to Sport Wrap recently, Willem said he started boxing at the tender age of nine and started to compete the age of 10. But, because the love for the game runs through his veins, he could not stay away from it and continued competing. However, in 2007 he took a break to go and further his studies.
Willem, an electrical engineer by profession came back home from South Africa where he was studying to look for a job and due to his busy work schedule he was unable to continue with boxing again.
“When I came back I had to work, but later I decided to start my own company and because I always had boxing at heart, I decided to come back because I had more time than before.
“In 2015 is when I came back but was not so active and got some amateur fights and only last year, I was targeting the Olympics but when we wanted to try, the qualifying games where over so that did not materialise. I then got an idea of turning professional and had my first fight in September and won in the second round, so was my second fight in December and I won both by knockouts,” he said.
He said when he came back, most of his mates had surpassed his level but after winning the two professional fights, he is confident that the future looks bright for him.
“I know there is so much potential in me and I have a talent and believe there is nobody better than me. I feel that I am the best and hope I will be Namibia’s next champion,” he said confidently.
The upcoming professional boxer who has a contract with the Salute Boxing Academy said he has been in contact with his promoter and hopes more boxing opportunities will be presented to him this year.
“I want to have as many fights as I can and I have been in touch with my promoter. So, hopefully by April I will have my third fight, because my training sessions have already kicked off and I hope to win all my fights this year,” he said.
Willem is a junior middleweight professional boxer, with an unbeaten record throughout his boxing career.
He holds an impressive record of 21 junior fights, 42 amateur fights, and two professional bouts.
He is inspired by Harry Simon and the former world champion Floyd “Money” Mayweather, and dreams to be Namibia's next champion.
“I would want to be rated the best pound for pound in the near future, and I would like to also win world titles like the likes of Harry Simon, Julius Indongo, Paulus ‘The Hitman’ Moses, Paulus ‘The Rock’ Ambunda, and Tyson Uushona.
“I believe in my God given talent and sees myself as the most potential and promising boxer Namibia has,” he said.
KAINO NGHITONGO
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article