Pro-boxer reflects on 2017
Young boxer Max 'Kwaludhi Boy' Ipinge has reflected on what a great year it was.
Max 'Kwaludhi Boy' Ipinge is fast becoming a household name in local boxing.
The young boxer was selected by the MTC Sunshine Boxing Academy to spar with former triple world champion Julius 'Blue Machine' Indongo during his mega fight against Terence Crawford of the US.
He has described this as the highlight of his professional boxing career. The 21-year-old boxer hails from Walvis Bay and is a second year accounting and auditing student at the University of Namibia. He said he took up boxing after experiencing a lot of bullying when he was still at school.
He said he would plan ways on how to get back at the bullies but they always caught him off guard.
“One day on my way to the playground I heard noises in a building, out of curiosity I went in to see what was happening and found boxers training. This instantly captured me,” he said.
“I spotted my mother's colleague Josef Katenda a former boxer and approached him over the possibility of joining them at training. Katenda taught me the basics of boxing and before I knew it, I fell in love with the sport.”
Ipinge was 14 years old when he decided to become an amateur boxer. In less than a year of extensive training, Ipinge participated in the National Amateur Boxing Championships which saw him being crowned the national champion in the 64kg weight.
“I went on to defend the title for two consecutive years before moving up the ranks to the 69kg welterweight category, where I remained the undisputed national champion till I moved up to professional boxing,” he said. Boxing has taught the young boxer discipline, patience and self-confidence.
“I'm very fortunate to be training in a gym amongst former world champions, current African champions as we all help each other to become better,” he said.
Inspiration
Surprisingly, the boxer said he does not look up to local boxers.
“My mom is my main source of inspiration as she raised me and my two siblings. My father passed away when I was four years old. Through her hard work she managed to provide and support my boxing career since I was 14 and sent me to university without a NSFAF loan or bursary,” he said. “My goal for next year is to compete and to do better than any African boxer in my category, so expect me to rewrite boxing history in 2018 and to see me with a world title before I reach the age of 25.
It also remains my biggest wish to establish a long-term partnership with the local authorities, corporates and boxing fans to take boxing back to my hometown on a constant basis.
My team understands the demographics of the town and they are working hard around the clock to provide my loyal fans the opportunity to see thrilling, competitive fights in the heart of Kuisebmond in 2018 featuring myself and my childhood friend Harry Simon Jr,” he said.
Poor start
The boxer participated in three professional fights this year. He lost his pro-debut against Charles Shimina, while he registered a win in his second fight, with a technical knockout against Joseph Hinangwa in the second round. He also defeated Hedison Nghipondokwa by a unanimous point decision. In 2012, the boxer landed a three months training camp in Havana, Cuba under the auspices of the Namibian Boxing Federation and the ministry of sport, which contributed significantly towards his blossoming career. In 2014 the boxer came close to winning his first gold medal for Namibia when he lost on points against Mohammed Haikal from Egypt during the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa Youth Games (ANOCA) held in Gaborone. In December of the same year, the boxer finally tasted gold at the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa Zone Six Youth Games (SCSA) in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
LIMBA MUPETAMI
The young boxer was selected by the MTC Sunshine Boxing Academy to spar with former triple world champion Julius 'Blue Machine' Indongo during his mega fight against Terence Crawford of the US.
He has described this as the highlight of his professional boxing career. The 21-year-old boxer hails from Walvis Bay and is a second year accounting and auditing student at the University of Namibia. He said he took up boxing after experiencing a lot of bullying when he was still at school.
He said he would plan ways on how to get back at the bullies but they always caught him off guard.
“One day on my way to the playground I heard noises in a building, out of curiosity I went in to see what was happening and found boxers training. This instantly captured me,” he said.
“I spotted my mother's colleague Josef Katenda a former boxer and approached him over the possibility of joining them at training. Katenda taught me the basics of boxing and before I knew it, I fell in love with the sport.”
Ipinge was 14 years old when he decided to become an amateur boxer. In less than a year of extensive training, Ipinge participated in the National Amateur Boxing Championships which saw him being crowned the national champion in the 64kg weight.
“I went on to defend the title for two consecutive years before moving up the ranks to the 69kg welterweight category, where I remained the undisputed national champion till I moved up to professional boxing,” he said. Boxing has taught the young boxer discipline, patience and self-confidence.
“I'm very fortunate to be training in a gym amongst former world champions, current African champions as we all help each other to become better,” he said.
Inspiration
Surprisingly, the boxer said he does not look up to local boxers.
“My mom is my main source of inspiration as she raised me and my two siblings. My father passed away when I was four years old. Through her hard work she managed to provide and support my boxing career since I was 14 and sent me to university without a NSFAF loan or bursary,” he said. “My goal for next year is to compete and to do better than any African boxer in my category, so expect me to rewrite boxing history in 2018 and to see me with a world title before I reach the age of 25.
It also remains my biggest wish to establish a long-term partnership with the local authorities, corporates and boxing fans to take boxing back to my hometown on a constant basis.
My team understands the demographics of the town and they are working hard around the clock to provide my loyal fans the opportunity to see thrilling, competitive fights in the heart of Kuisebmond in 2018 featuring myself and my childhood friend Harry Simon Jr,” he said.
Poor start
The boxer participated in three professional fights this year. He lost his pro-debut against Charles Shimina, while he registered a win in his second fight, with a technical knockout against Joseph Hinangwa in the second round. He also defeated Hedison Nghipondokwa by a unanimous point decision. In 2012, the boxer landed a three months training camp in Havana, Cuba under the auspices of the Namibian Boxing Federation and the ministry of sport, which contributed significantly towards his blossoming career. In 2014 the boxer came close to winning his first gold medal for Namibia when he lost on points against Mohammed Haikal from Egypt during the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa Youth Games (ANOCA) held in Gaborone. In December of the same year, the boxer finally tasted gold at the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa Zone Six Youth Games (SCSA) in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
LIMBA MUPETAMI
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