World-class fights slated for April
First boxing bonanza for Sunshine
The Independence Boxing Championship was launched in the capital last week and will be held in celebration of Namibia's independence.
Limba Mupetami
The MTC Nestor Sunshine Tobias Boxing Academy will host its annual Independence Boxing Championship on 22 April at the Windhoek Country Club.
This was announced at a press conference in Windhoek last week.
The boxing bonanza will see about eight bouts, with the main ones to be headlined by hard puncher Charles ‘Super Shine’ Shinima, who will defend his WBO Africa welterweight title (12 rounds), and Paulinus ‘John John’ Ndjolonimus, who will defend his WBO Africa super middleweight title (12 rounds).
Shinima will face Angola’s Henriques Lando, whereas Ndjolonimus will face Mbiya Kanku of Zambia.
Shinima has an unbeaten record of 15 fights, whereas Lando has 12 fights, eight wins, and four losses.
Ndjolonimus also has an unbeaten record of 15 fights, whereas Kanku has a total record of 17 fights: 10 wins, six losses, and one draw.
Celebrate freedom and success
Boxing promoter Nestor Tobias said the boxing bonanza is being held to celebrate 33 years of Namibia’s independence.
“We are going to celebrate throughout the year. We want to celebrate our success and our freedom. We want to tell the nation about what we have achieved. We didn’t have boxers who could even fight six rounds back then, but we have managed to develop boxing in the country.”
He added that Namibian boxers are physically strong but need a little polishing. No sport code can compare with boxing in Namibia, he said.
He also recounted the difficulties he faced when he was a boxer.
“When I used to box, I couldn’t fight abroad because of apartheid and sanctions, but these boxers are free to do whatever they want, and we should celebrate that freedom,” Tobias said.
He boasted that they have produced boxers that rank in the top 15. “How many academies can say that?”
Valuable partnerships
Tobias said boxing is attractive and entertaining, but costly, and he thus thanked all the sponsors and encouraged other corporations to come on board and assist where possible.
Shinima, who will be one of the stars on the night, said he is in top shape and ready to overcome his opponent.
“He will go down,” he said.
Ndjolonimus echoed his sentiments, stating that he is the best thing on the best team.
“We are busy in the gym getting ourselves in shape and polishing where we can. We are ready for anything. Anything can happen, and I’m ready,” he said.
The MTC Nestor Sunshine Tobias Boxing Academy will host its annual Independence Boxing Championship on 22 April at the Windhoek Country Club.
This was announced at a press conference in Windhoek last week.
The boxing bonanza will see about eight bouts, with the main ones to be headlined by hard puncher Charles ‘Super Shine’ Shinima, who will defend his WBO Africa welterweight title (12 rounds), and Paulinus ‘John John’ Ndjolonimus, who will defend his WBO Africa super middleweight title (12 rounds).
Shinima will face Angola’s Henriques Lando, whereas Ndjolonimus will face Mbiya Kanku of Zambia.
Shinima has an unbeaten record of 15 fights, whereas Lando has 12 fights, eight wins, and four losses.
Ndjolonimus also has an unbeaten record of 15 fights, whereas Kanku has a total record of 17 fights: 10 wins, six losses, and one draw.
Celebrate freedom and success
Boxing promoter Nestor Tobias said the boxing bonanza is being held to celebrate 33 years of Namibia’s independence.
“We are going to celebrate throughout the year. We want to celebrate our success and our freedom. We want to tell the nation about what we have achieved. We didn’t have boxers who could even fight six rounds back then, but we have managed to develop boxing in the country.”
He added that Namibian boxers are physically strong but need a little polishing. No sport code can compare with boxing in Namibia, he said.
He also recounted the difficulties he faced when he was a boxer.
“When I used to box, I couldn’t fight abroad because of apartheid and sanctions, but these boxers are free to do whatever they want, and we should celebrate that freedom,” Tobias said.
He boasted that they have produced boxers that rank in the top 15. “How many academies can say that?”
Valuable partnerships
Tobias said boxing is attractive and entertaining, but costly, and he thus thanked all the sponsors and encouraged other corporations to come on board and assist where possible.
Shinima, who will be one of the stars on the night, said he is in top shape and ready to overcome his opponent.
“He will go down,” he said.
Ndjolonimus echoed his sentiments, stating that he is the best thing on the best team.
“We are busy in the gym getting ourselves in shape and polishing where we can. We are ready for anything. Anything can happen, and I’m ready,” he said.
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