Tyson Uushona will defend his WBA Pan African welterweight title against compatriot Tommy Hango at the Windhoek Country Club on March 20.
Namibian boxing promoter Nestor Tobias announced the fight at a press conference on Wednesday, saying it would top the bill at the Independence Celebration Boxing Bonanza, which will feature another continental title fight as well as a Namibian title fight.
The Uushona-Hango bout will be a highly anticipated rematch after Uushona won their first bout on a split decision in December 2008. That fight was a humdinger that had the crowd on the edge of their seats, with both boxers giving their all, and in the end two judges awarded the fight to Uushona and one to Hango.
The two fighters were supposed to meet in a rematch at the Independence Celebration Bonanza last year, but Hango withdrew after failing a medical test. Now however its all systems go and boxing fans can expect another explosive bout between two evenly-matched boxers.
Uushona is still unbeaten after 19 pro fights, while Hango has won 9 and lost 2 pro fights.
In the main supporting bout, Paulus Ambunda will defend his WBO African bantamweight title against Ntobeko Duma of South Africa. The hard hitting Ambunda is undefeated after 9 pro fights and should start as the favourite against Duma, who has won 10 and lost 3 pro fights.
Vikapita Meroro will take on Westley Macdade of Zimbabwe over eight rounds in a light heavyweight fight.
Meroro has an impressive pro record of 17 victories and only one defeat, but he will face a tough opponent in Macdade who also has only one defeat in 13 pro fights.
Tobias said he was trying to organise a WBO Intercontinental title bout for Meroro, which would hopefully take place by April this year.
“I am busy preparing Meroro for the WBO Africa light heavyweight title which is vacant at the moment. Meroro is the mandatory challenger, but it will depend on funds and we would need to pay the sanction fee for the fight to take place. But I am positive and I’m sure he will fight for the title by April,” he said.
Abraham Ndaendapo and Gottlieb Ndokosho will meet each other in a rematch for the vacant Namibian junior lightweight title over 10 rounds.
Their first bout ended in a technical draw after the fight was stopped due to a bad cut over Ndaendapo’s eye. Ndaendapo has a pro record of 7 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw, while Ndokosho’s record stands at 8 wins, 1 defeat and 2 draws.
In another highly anticipated rematch Namibia’s up and coming junior welterweight Sacky Shikukutu takes on Norman Tshisakhawe of South Africa. Shikukutu had a stellar rise in the paid ranks, winning his first 11 fights in a row, before his unbeaten run came to a shuddering halt against Tshisakhawe in October 2009, when the South African knocked him out in the first round.
Shikukutu however was confident that he would win the rematch, saying that the referee stopped their first fight prematurely when he counted him out on his feet.
Maybe Shikukutu is right and Tshisakhawe landed a lucky punch because the South Africa’s record is hardly impressive, consisting of 6 wins and 8 defeats.
In other fights, Samuel Kapapu (8f, 6w, 2l) will take on Peter Malakia (10f, 4w, 6l) in a lightweight fight over six rounds, while Julius Indongo (3f, 3w) will take on former national amateur champion Festus Nghidinwa, who makes his pro debut, in a lightweight bout over four rounds.
Immanuel Naidjala, unbeaten after two fights, takes on Mathew Toli of South Africa (5f, 1w, 3l, 1d) in a bantamweight fight over four rounds.