Visitors ready for boxing war

There are only two days left before one of the most exciting boxing bonanzas - dubbed ‘Final Punch to the World Titles’ - takes place at Katutura’s Independence Arena. The international boxers who are to feature on the day have already arrived in the country and they are ready to fight. The main bout of the night will be between Paulus ‘The Hitman’ Moses, who will defend his title for the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) International Lightweight with Josenilson Dos Santos from Brazil. Dos Santos and his South American counterparts were welcomed at a press conference that was held in Windhoek yesterday. Having been given a chance to state his readiness, the challenger said he was eager to get things going. “I am ready to fight with Hitman,” said Dos Santos. “We have travelled a long distance from our country to come get the victory. “The fight will be the big one and I hope I will win it.” Another exciting fight will be between Bethuel ‘Tyson’ Uushona and Dario Pucheta from Argentina in the WBO international welterweight category. Pucheta promised that the fight would end in victory for him. “I’m very happy to fight with Uushona. “Two months ago, I fought and won by a knockout; I will win on Saturday,” he said. Vikapita ‘Beastmaster’ Meroro will confront David Cabral, who is also from Argentina, in an international cruiserweight bout. Easy fight Cabral said it would be an easy fight for him because he managed to fight with a professional fighter who has a record of more than 70 fights. Speaking at the press conference yesterday Nestor Tobias, whose stable is organising the bonanza, said it is not easy to get fighters from abroad to come to Namibia when people are talking about the Ebola virus. “No one wants to be in Africa because of that disease,” he said. “But it will be a great fight that a lot of people will talk about... We are not doing it for ourselves; we are doing it for the nation.” Tobias added that it’s up to the fighters to show their talent so that boxing can grow in the country. Super-middleweight fighter Wilberforce ‘Black Mamba’ Shihepo will have a rematch against Tineyi Maridzo from Zimbabwe in a WBO international bout. Other supporting bouts on the night will see the likes of Sacky ‘Izinyoka’ Shikukutu, Tommy ‘Lion’ Hango, Nathaniel Kamati, Jeremia Nakathila, and Simeon Shafodino taking on opponents from Botswana and Zimbabwe. The first bout will start at 18:30. Tickets cost N$500 for VIP seating and N$100 for general entry. They are available at Computicket outlets and the MTC Nestor Sunshine Academy office. WINDHOEK-LUKAS NAMBALA