Homeboys to shine brightly at Outapi

A few boxers will be greatly motivated to give a star performance when the MTC Sunshine Academy stages its first boxing bonanza of the year at Outapi’s Olufuko Centre tomorrow evening. This is because the likes of Jeremia Nakathila, Johannes ‘Baluka’ Simon and Martin ‘Black Poison’ Haikali hail from the area. It is for that reason that their trainer, Tobias Nashilongo, believes that his fighters will offer value for their money during tomorrow’s bouts. “They are in top shape and there is no pressure on them because I know they will give the people of Outapi a great show,” he said. Reflecting on his boxers’ opponents, Nashilongo said he expects the unbeaten Nakathila to do well when he faces Manfred Haimbanga in a junior lightweight four-rounder. “He will be in a tough fight but I’m 99.9% sure he will win this one,” he said. Simon is set to have a rematch with Abner Mwafangeyo in a six-round bantamweight fight and having already beaten his opponent, Nashilongo is adamant that his boxer will triumph again. “They know each other well and Baluka will again beat him,” Nashilongo predicted. The trainer goes on to say that while they don’t know much about Haikali’s opponent, Ilunga Kabwe from DRC, they have done enough in training to ensure that the Namibian will successfully defend his WBO Africa lightweight belt. “We did our part and we will give him pressure from the first round,” Nashilongo said before calling on the people of Outapi to come and enjoy live boxing. “This time they’ll be able to see that it is real blood when these guys fight. So all people from Outapi must come and enjoy the fights,” he stressed. Paulus ‘The Hitman’ Moses is the main drawcard, as he will defend his WBO international lightweight title against Argentina’s Cristian Rafael Coria. Regular tickets for the bonanza cost N$50 while VIP seats cost N$300 and children under 12 pay only N$20. Full Outapi card Emmanuel Mungandjela v Kapena Naidjala Jeremia Nakathila v Manfred Haimbanga Johannes Simon v Abner Mwafangeyo Japhet Utoni v Lukusa Kashini Sakaria Lukas v Tekesha Ilunga (DRC) Julius Indongo v Joel Mwelwa (ZAM) Martin Haikali v Ilunga Kabwe (DRC) Paulus Moses v Cristian Rafael Coria (ARG)