'Focus on Olympic-style fighting'

Quote Box
Ludwig Haimbodi
It is from here that we’ll get the next boxing champions

Warriors Promotions will host an Olympic-style boxing tournament at the Tobias Hainyeko Community Hall behind Hakahana Clinic in Katutura on Saturday.
This is the second time the academy will host such an event, having previously hosted another one at the Maxwilili Centre in Babylon, Katutura, in May.
Speaking to Namibian Sun yesterday, Warriors Promotions’ head trainer, Ludwig Haimbodi, said they have specifically targeted the informal areas of Windhoek.
“The informal settlements are hungry for this kind of event, as can be seen by the great support they showed for our previous event,” he said.
Haimbodi added that they also felt it was time to do things differently when it comes to their aim of developing themselves and boxing as a whole.
“We thought it was time to change the game and take boxing to the grassroots by hosting tournaments where most boxers come from. It was also time that we stop going to companies to ask for sponsorships but rather approach people who operate in the community,” he said.
As a result fans just have to buy a cooldrink for N$10 to gain entrance to watch the action, Haimbodi said.
“A lot of people ask if that N$10 for the cooldrink makes a difference but it is from the proceeds of this campaign that we have been able to host the tournaments.
“It seems simple but it is from here that we’ll get the next boxing champions and we are happy that community members are coming to support us,” he said, mentioning E-Bar owner Petrus Amalovu as a worthy example for others to follow.
“The interest is growing and we have to thank people like Amalovu for this.”
At least 26 bouts can be expected on Saturday, with all of the Khomas Region’s boxing clubs sending boxers to the event.
These include the MTC Sunshine Academy, Soweto Boxing Club, Warriors Promotions, Jacob 'Mistake' Gariseb Boxing and Fitness University, Golden Boxing Club and the After School Centre.
Haimbodi said they hope to change that in future by extending their reach beyond the central region.
“Our vision is to bring boxers from the regions to come fight here or even take our fighters to fight outside [Windhoek]. We’d love to take it countrywide but we’ll not kill ourselves because finances are still problematic,” he said.
Warriors Promotions planned to host at least four more events before the end of the year, Haimbodi vowed.
HECTOR MAWONGA