2009 in Review – Boxing

Courtesy of www.namibiasport.com.na

Namibian boxing had an excellent year during 2009, producing one world champion and several continental champions to underline Namibia’s status as the most successful boxing nation in Africa. Besides their success in the professional ranks, Namibia’s senior amateur team also won the African Boxing Confederation Zone 6 Championships, while the junior team won the overall gold medal at the SADC Zone 6 Youth Games.

Paulus “The Hitman” Moses won the WBA lightweight title in January with an excellent performance after beating Yusuke Kobori of Japan on points over 12 rounds. Displaying an excellent jab and great ring craftsmanship, Moses raked in the points and never allowed his opponent to come in too close to unleash his dangerous hooks.

Moses won the fight on a unanimous points decision to become Namibia’s second world champion, after Harry Simon, who won the WBO junior welterweight title in 1998.

In July, Moses successfully defended his title against another Japanese fighter, Takehiro Shimada, with a unanimous points decision over 12 rounds in Windhoek. It was the first world title fight to be staged in Namibia, by local boxing impresario Nestor Tobias, and saw more than 3 000 Namibian fans turning up to cheer their world champion on.

Moses will now make his second title defence against the legendary Mexican fighter, Marco Antonio Barrera.

The 35-year-old Mexican is a seven-time world champion in three different weight classes and has a professional record of 72 fights, 65 wins and 7 defeats. Moses is still unbeaten as a professional boxer with 25 wins from 25 fights.
The fight is scheduled to take place in Los Angeles in January 2010, but a date still has to be finalised.

Betuel “Tyson” Uushona won two continental titles during 2009 as he took his pro record to 19 wins from 19 fights.

In March he beat Misheck Kondwane of Zimbabwe to win the WBA Pan African welterweight title and in October he beat Colin Mayisela of South Africa to win the WBO African Interim welterweight title. By October he was ranked 112th amongst the world’s top welterweights by the influential boxing website www.boxrec.com

Another Namibian welterweight boxer, Paulus “Ali” Nuumbembe won the WBO African welterweight title after beating Samuel Malinga of South Africa on points over 12 rounds in Windhoek in September.

Nuumbembe, a former Commonwealth welterweight champion, took his pro record to 28 fights, 23 wins, 4 defeats and 1 draw. He was ranked as the 53rd best welterweight in the world by www.boxrec.com

Jatoroora Tjingavete became the WBO Pan African lightweight champion when he beat Martin Haikal on points over 12 rounds in March. Haikali however took revenge in a rematch in November when he knocked Tjingavete out in the sixth round to claim the African title from his compatriot. Haikali now has a record of 4 wins and 4 defeats, while Tjingavete’s record reads 13 win and two defeats.

Vikapita Meroro maintained his impressive record as a pro when knocked out Zimbabwe’s Tinei Mhardizo in the second round in September to win the WBO African light heavyweight title. Meroro now has a record of 17 wins and one defeat and could soon be in line for an intercontinental title fight.

Namibian bantamweight champion Paulus “The Rock” Ambunda’s impressive form continued as he won the WBO African interim bantamweight title in October with a second round TKO over Lwazi Mzolozi of South Africa. The hard hitting Ambunda is now unbeaten after nine pro fights, with most of his victories coming via knockout.

Other up and coming Namibia pro boxers include junior welterweight Sacky Shikukutu, flyweight Abmerk Shidjuu, bantamweight Immanuel Naidjala and lightweight Julius Indongo.

Shikukutu won his first 11 pro fights, most via knockouts, before being knocked out by South Africa’s Norman Tshisakwawe in October.

The Namibian flyweight champion Abmerk Shidjuu beat Zimbabwe’s Pardon Katerera with a second round knock out in November to take his pro record to 7 wins, 2 defeats and 2 draws.

Indongo, who represented Namibia at the 2008 Olympic Games, won his first three fights in the paid ranks, while Naidjala, who represented Namibia at the 2007 All Africa Games, won his first two pro fights.

JANUARY

Moses becomes World Champion

Paulus “The Hitman” Moses gave a sensational performance to beat Japan’s Yusuke Kobori and win the World Boxing Association lightweight title in Yokahama on January 3.
Moses dominated the fight from the start and was a clear winner according to all three judges, who scored it 115-113, 115-113 and 119-109 in Moses’ favour.
Two days later, Moses received a heroes welcome at the Hosea Kutako International Airport when more than 200 people turned up to welcome their new champion home.
On January 14, Moses was the guest of honour at State House where President Hifikepunye Pohamba presented him with a diplomatic passport.

MARCH

Tjingavete, Uushona win African titles

Jatoroora Tjingavete won the vacant WBO Pan African lightweight title when he beat compatriot Martin Haikali on a unanimous points decision over 12 rounds.
Namibian welterweight champion Tyson Uushona beat Misheck Kondwane of Zimbabwe with a fourth round KO to claim the WBA Pan African welterweight title.
In another welterweight fight Namibia’s Ali Nuumbembe beat Moses Mbowane of South Africa on a fifth round knockout, while Namibia’s Vikapita Meroro beat Zimbabwe’s Victor Moyo on a second round TKO in a super middleweight bout.

MAY

Nuumbembe wins Namibian welterweight title

Frans Rambo Hantindi’s return to the ring was shortlived as he suffered a second round knockout at the hands of Ali Nuumbembe at the Windhoek Country Club.
With the victory Nuumbembe won the Namibian welterweight title, which was relinquished by Tyson Uushona when he won the WBA Pan African welterweight title in March. In the main supporting bout Martin Haikali won the vacant Namibian lightweight title after beating Peter Malakia on a split decision over 10 rounds.

JULY

Moses retains world title

Paulus “The Hitman” Moses retained his WBA lightweight title when he convincingly beat Takehiro Shimada on points in front of about 3 000 fans at the Windhoek Country Club.
Moses’ victory capped a great evening’s entertainment and was a fitting end to the historic “Rumble in the Namib” boxing tournament – the first world title fight to be staged in Namibia.
Betuel “Tyson” Uushona retained his WBA Pan African Welterweight title when he beat South Africa’s Welcome Ntshingila on points over 12 rounds. Jatoorora “The Sting” Tjingavete also retained his WBO African Lightweight title when he knocked out compatriot Paulus Kapia with a stunning right hook in the seventh round.

SEPTEMBER

Nuumbembe wins WBO African title

Paulus “Ali” Nuumbembe became the new WBO African welterweight champion when he beat South Africa’s Samuel Malinga on a unanimous points decision.
Two of the judges gave Nuumbembe a comfortable victory, 118-113 and 118-110, while a third scored the bout 115-114 in Nuumbembe’s favour.
In the main supporting bout Vikapita Meroro won the WBO African light heavyweight title in stunning style, when he KO’d Zimbabwe’s Tinei Mharidzo in the second round.
Paulus “The Rock” Ambunda won the Namibian bantamweight title in ruthless style with a second round TKO against Tommy Nakashimba.

OCTOBER

Uushona wins WBO African interim title

Tyson Uushona won the WBO African interim welterweight title when he beat South Africa’s Colin Mayisela in Walvis Bay.
Uushona was pushed all the way by the tough South African, who gave as good as he got, but all three judges awarded the fight to Uushona, with two scoring it 118-110 and a third 119-117.
Namibia’s national bantamweight champion Paulus Ambunda became the new WBO African Interim Bantamweight champion when he beat South Africa’s Lwazi Mzolozi on a second round technical knockout.

NOVEMBER

Haikali wins African title

Martin Haikali caused a major upset when he beat Jatoorora Tjingavete on a sixth round TKO to become the new African WBO lightweight champion on Saturday night. Haikali was roped in as a replacement for Wandile Mseleku of South Africa who withdrew without any reason at the last minute, but despite the short notice, Haikali rose to the occasion with a brilliant performance, before the referee stopped the fight in the sixth round.