Weekend boxing feast

Boxing lovers are licking their lips in anticipation of a feast of action this weekend.

Paulus 'El Jesus' Ambunda and Sakaria 'Desert Storm' Lukas, from the AC Boxing and Fitness Gym, and Walter 'The Executioner' Kautondokwa, from the MTC Nestor Sunshine Tobias Academy, will be in action.

Ambunda will defend his International Boxing Organisation (IBO) super bantamweight title against unbeaten American star Stephen Fulton in Fairfax, Virginia in the United States.

The 38-year old Ambunda, who beat Muhamad Ridhwan of Singapore in September 2018 to claim the title, has a record of 29 fights, 27 wins of which 11 came in a way of knockout, and two defeats. His 24-year-old opponent has a clean record of seven knockouts out of 15 fights.

“Fulton has never fought an African lion before. I'm one, and come fight night, I will not run after him like a goat. I know that he will be running the whole night and I will cut his running,” said Ambunda.

The Namibian said Fulton will not come near his body, as he was ready for him.

“Fulton has never gone past 10 rounds and doesn't know pain. In order to be a great boxer, you should be able to go the distance and to feel the pain,” said Ambunda.

Fulton, speaking to international media, said he plans to outclass the Namibian.

“I've watched his tape, but you know, I only watched it one time. I don't really get into that because that's not going to be the same fight that he might fight against me and vice versa. Whatever he watched of me, I'm not the same kid or same guy I was a few fights ago or in my last fight.

“I look at some flaws and I look at his good fights and his bad fights. I love to watch the good ones because whatever he does that's good, I've got to take that away from him,” said the American.

The event is headlined by undefeated International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Association (WBA) champion 'Swift' Jarrett Hurd defending his titles against top contender Julian 'J-Rock' Williams.



Desert Storm, Executioner in action

Lukas and Walter Kautondokwa will both be fighting at the Nelson Mandela Hall, in an event organised by Saul Loggenberg Promotions tonight in Zimbabwe.

Featherweight boxer Lukas, from the same gym as Ambunda, has a non-title clash with Zimbabwe's Ndodana Ncube. Lukas, who last fought in December 2017 when he defended his World Boxing Organisation Africa (WBO) featherweight title against Tello Dithebe of South Africa, has a record of 21 fights with 14 knockouts.

Ncube has a record of seven fights, six wins and one loss and last fought in March against his countryman Emmanuel Chisiya.

“I have been in the gym every day and sparring with top guys like Paulus Moses and Ambunda, so I have nothing to be scared of when I step into the ring. I have not fought for a while but I will dust it off,” Lukas said.

Hard-hitting Kautondokwa will step into the ring with Simeon Tcheta from Malawi.

This comes after Kautondokwa's much-anticipated return to the ring was cancelled recently at short notice, after his opponent failed a medical examination ahead of the Independence Legacy Fight Part 2 tourney.

Kautondokwa has a record of 17 fights, 16 knockouts and one loss. Tcheta boasts a record of 12 fights, nine wins, two losses and one draw. The fight will be over 10 rounds in the middleweight division.

“I'm happy to have a new fight confirmed so quickly after the last setback. I know so many fans came out to see my return to the ring, but it was not to be. “I'm going to Harare to win and not to visit. The nation should know that I'm coming back victorious,” The Executioner said.



LIMBA MUPETAMI