Shonena shows class
Mike Shonena retained his WBO Africa welterweight title with a unanimous points' decision yesterday morning.
LIMBA MUPETAMI
Mike Shonena beat Tanzanian challenger, Mfaume Mfaume at the Windhoek Country Club Resort in the early hours of yesterday morning to retain his World Boxing Organisation (WBO) Africa welterweight title.
Shonena showed flair, class and strength during the MTC Nestor Tobias Sunshine Boxing Fiesta clash, demonstrating to his opponent why he is one of the best in the division.
From the start of the first round, Shonena and Mfaume tested each other, as they exchanged heavy punches, with most of the body work coming from the Namibian.
In the fourth round, Mfaume took the fight to Shonena, landing some straight punches that caught the Namibian off-guard, but the Tanzanian was unable to follow-up these blows.
Shonena, who had prior to the fight said he would finish off Mfaume by the fifth round, had to work very hard to keep the Tanzanian off his body.
Mfaume showboated, but Shonena was not impressed and continued his impressive work in the ring.
From the eighth round Shonena picked up the tempo and began to target the Tanzanian's body at will.
At the end of the 12th round, the judges scored the fight 119-109, 117-111 and 120-108 in Shonena's favour.
After the bout, the champion said the fight had not been easy, as Mfaume had refused to back down.
“From the first round he gave me a tough time. He just kept coming, even though I was hitting him.”
Promoter Nestor Tobias said Shonena's opponent was confident and had experience.
“Mike could have done better, but he was not following up on his punches. We allowed Mfaume to enjoy himself and for the crowd to have a great time, but Shonena showed great technique and from here we will go back to training and work on a few mistakes,” Tobias said. He added that winning more fights will increase Shonena's chances of fighting for a world title.
Other fights
In other fights on the card, Phillip Shaanika beat Nelson Hango in their super bantamweight fight. In the bantamweight division, Gabriel Jamba proved too strong for Andreas Mwenyo.
Also in the super bantamweight division, Mathias Haita knocked out Elifas Kambungu.
Sam 'Peri-Peri' Mathews defeated Petrus Gustavo.
In their super bantamweight fight, Phillipus Nghitumbwa knocked out Festus Matias in the first round.
Usko Rehabeam beat Sheehama Sakaria via a unanimous decision, to register his first professional win in the lightweight division.
Charles Shinima beat Steve Shimbonde via a third-round technical knockout in their super welterweight division clash. The fight between Paulinus Paulinus and Bright Mdoka was called off, as one of them failed a medical exam.
The flyweight title went to Fillemon Nghutenyi, who beat Jacob Jacob via a unanimous decision over six rounds, while Onesmus Nekundi and Nikoti Johannes fought to a draw in their featherweight bout.
In a junior middleweight bout, Max Ipinge faced a strong challenge from Andreas Nghinaunye, but beat him on points after four rounds of boxing.
Mike Shonena beat Tanzanian challenger, Mfaume Mfaume at the Windhoek Country Club Resort in the early hours of yesterday morning to retain his World Boxing Organisation (WBO) Africa welterweight title.
Shonena showed flair, class and strength during the MTC Nestor Tobias Sunshine Boxing Fiesta clash, demonstrating to his opponent why he is one of the best in the division.
From the start of the first round, Shonena and Mfaume tested each other, as they exchanged heavy punches, with most of the body work coming from the Namibian.
In the fourth round, Mfaume took the fight to Shonena, landing some straight punches that caught the Namibian off-guard, but the Tanzanian was unable to follow-up these blows.
Shonena, who had prior to the fight said he would finish off Mfaume by the fifth round, had to work very hard to keep the Tanzanian off his body.
Mfaume showboated, but Shonena was not impressed and continued his impressive work in the ring.
From the eighth round Shonena picked up the tempo and began to target the Tanzanian's body at will.
At the end of the 12th round, the judges scored the fight 119-109, 117-111 and 120-108 in Shonena's favour.
After the bout, the champion said the fight had not been easy, as Mfaume had refused to back down.
“From the first round he gave me a tough time. He just kept coming, even though I was hitting him.”
Promoter Nestor Tobias said Shonena's opponent was confident and had experience.
“Mike could have done better, but he was not following up on his punches. We allowed Mfaume to enjoy himself and for the crowd to have a great time, but Shonena showed great technique and from here we will go back to training and work on a few mistakes,” Tobias said. He added that winning more fights will increase Shonena's chances of fighting for a world title.
Other fights
In other fights on the card, Phillip Shaanika beat Nelson Hango in their super bantamweight fight. In the bantamweight division, Gabriel Jamba proved too strong for Andreas Mwenyo.
Also in the super bantamweight division, Mathias Haita knocked out Elifas Kambungu.
Sam 'Peri-Peri' Mathews defeated Petrus Gustavo.
In their super bantamweight fight, Phillipus Nghitumbwa knocked out Festus Matias in the first round.
Usko Rehabeam beat Sheehama Sakaria via a unanimous decision, to register his first professional win in the lightweight division.
Charles Shinima beat Steve Shimbonde via a third-round technical knockout in their super welterweight division clash. The fight between Paulinus Paulinus and Bright Mdoka was called off, as one of them failed a medical exam.
The flyweight title went to Fillemon Nghutenyi, who beat Jacob Jacob via a unanimous decision over six rounds, while Onesmus Nekundi and Nikoti Johannes fought to a draw in their featherweight bout.
In a junior middleweight bout, Max Ipinge faced a strong challenge from Andreas Nghinaunye, but beat him on points after four rounds of boxing.
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