Tobias and Simon's friendship never dies
JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA
WINDHOEK
Boxing trainer and promoter Nestor 'Sunshine' Tobias has claimed that he always had the better of former boxing world champion Harry Simon during sparring time.
Simon and Tobias share a common history and friendship for having been sparring partners, colleagues and friends during their early days as boxers.
Harry Simon went on to become a world champion boxer though, while Nestor Tobias went on to become one of Africa's best promoters. It has always been widely speculated that Harry Simon always had the better of his friend during their boxing days in the gym.
“Well, Harry and I have come a long way and I can say that he was a very talented young guy.
“There was however no way that he would beat me because I was heavier and always gave him a tough time while sparring,” Tobias said on the Sport Wrap Show on Thursday.
Passion above all
Tobias added that they were both very passionate and hardworking boxers who always wanted to achieve greatness.
“We had so much love and passion for boxing that I remember sparring with him even hours after the training had ended.
“We continued fighting after everyone had left and that was just passion which drove us.” From as early as 1994, when he turned professional, to 2002, Simon was one of the best junior middleweights in the world.
He had impressive skills and could knock out any opponent to end a fight early.
In 1998, Simon edged American Winky Wright in a controversial win to claim the WBO light middleweight title.
“I even was his sparring partner before that Winky Wright fight and always encouraged him because he felt comfortable around me,” Tobias added. He defended the title four times against British great Kevin Lueshing, as well as American Rodney Jones, Argentinean Enrique Areco and Wayne Alexander from the United Kingdom.
In 2001, Simon won the interim WBO middleweight crown when he defeated Frenchman Hacine Cherifi and then beat undefeated Swedish boxer Armand Krajnc in 2002.
In 2013, Simon won the vacant IBF International light heavyweight title against Serbian Geard Ajetovic and defended it against the same boxer in 2014.
As an amateur, Simon represented Namibia as a welterweight at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.
WINDHOEK
Boxing trainer and promoter Nestor 'Sunshine' Tobias has claimed that he always had the better of former boxing world champion Harry Simon during sparring time.
Simon and Tobias share a common history and friendship for having been sparring partners, colleagues and friends during their early days as boxers.
Harry Simon went on to become a world champion boxer though, while Nestor Tobias went on to become one of Africa's best promoters. It has always been widely speculated that Harry Simon always had the better of his friend during their boxing days in the gym.
“Well, Harry and I have come a long way and I can say that he was a very talented young guy.
“There was however no way that he would beat me because I was heavier and always gave him a tough time while sparring,” Tobias said on the Sport Wrap Show on Thursday.
Passion above all
Tobias added that they were both very passionate and hardworking boxers who always wanted to achieve greatness.
“We had so much love and passion for boxing that I remember sparring with him even hours after the training had ended.
“We continued fighting after everyone had left and that was just passion which drove us.” From as early as 1994, when he turned professional, to 2002, Simon was one of the best junior middleweights in the world.
He had impressive skills and could knock out any opponent to end a fight early.
In 1998, Simon edged American Winky Wright in a controversial win to claim the WBO light middleweight title.
“I even was his sparring partner before that Winky Wright fight and always encouraged him because he felt comfortable around me,” Tobias added. He defended the title four times against British great Kevin Lueshing, as well as American Rodney Jones, Argentinean Enrique Areco and Wayne Alexander from the United Kingdom.
In 2001, Simon won the interim WBO middleweight crown when he defeated Frenchman Hacine Cherifi and then beat undefeated Swedish boxer Armand Krajnc in 2002.
In 2013, Simon won the vacant IBF International light heavyweight title against Serbian Geard Ajetovic and defended it against the same boxer in 2014.
As an amateur, Simon represented Namibia as a welterweight at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.
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