Namibian welterweight champion Ali Nuumbembe will fight South Africa’s Samuel Malinga for the vacant WBO African weltwerweight title at the Windhoek Country Club on 12 September. The fight will be the main attraction at the Box ‘n Dine boxing bonanza that will feature several other international fights as well as one Namibian national title fight. Namibian boxing promoter Nestor Tobias announced the tournament at a press conference on Wednesday, saying that it would be a tough challenge for Nuumbembe.
“Ali was supposed to fight for the title twice before, but his opponents either chickened out or failed their medical tests. Now Ali will face a very capable and highly rated fighter in Samuel Malinga, after his trainer Nick du Randt agreed to the fight and signed the contract,” he said.
Malinga boasts an impressive professional record of 21 wins (13 KO’s), five defeats and two draws in 28 fights, while he has also held three titles during his career.
He won the IBO Intercontinental light welterweight title as well as the WBF light welterweight title in 2003. Two years later he won the South African light welterweight title and defended it successfully on five occasions.
In October last year he challenged Kaizer Mabuza for the WBA Pan African light welterweight title but lost a majority decision over 12 rounds.
Nuumbembe has a nearly identical record to that of Malinga, with 22 wins, 4 defeats and 1 draw in 27 professional fights. Nuumbembe said he was determined to win the fight.
“I saw him fight in London and he is a good boxer. He won that fight, which shows that he can fight well outside his home country, but that’s not a problem. I expect a tough fight and I want a tough fight because it will bring out the best in me. I have trained very hard and I will make sure that I win this fight, because Ali Nuumbembe is done with losing. I wont lose again until I become the world champion,” he said.
Tobias said he was still negotiating to find a sponsor for the tournament, but said it would go on regardless. In the past Telecom Namibia had sponsored the annual Box ‘n Dine tournaments, but Tobias said a sponsor had not yet been secured for this year’s event.
In the main supporting fight Namibia’s Vikapita Meroro will take on South Africa’s Smart Nkomo in a light heavyweight fight over eight rounds. Meroro has an impressive record of 16 wins and one defeat, while Nkomo’s record is 10 wins, 4 defeats and 1 draw.
Namibia’s up and coming and unbeaten junior welterweight Sacky Shikukutu will face his toughest opponent to date in Zimbabwe’s Takudzwa Kuchocha. The hard-hitting Shikukutu is still unbeaten after 10 pro fights, while Kuchocha has a record of 10 wins and 1 defeat.
Namibia’s unbeaten bantamweight boxer Paulus Ambunda will take on compatriot Tommy Nakashimba for the national bantamweight title over 10 rounds. Ambunda is unbeaten after 7 fights, while Nakashimba has a record of 3 wins and 4 defeats.
In another national title fight for the junior lightweight national title, Abraham Ndaendapo will take on Gottlieb Ndokosho over 10 rounds. Ndaendapo has a record of 6 wins and 1 defeat while Ndokosho has a record of 6 wins 1 defeat and 1 draw.
Julius Indongo and Pohamba Mandume will have a rematch in a lightweight fight over four rounds, after Indongo won their first bout on points on July 25.
Peter Malakia will face Albinu Felesianu in a lightweight fight over six rounds. Malakia has a record of 5 wins and 6 defeats while Felesianu’s record is 3 wins and 2 defeats.
Martin Haikali, who has a record of 3 wins and 3 defeats will face an opponent that must still be confirmed in a lightweight fight over six rounds.