Namibia’s former world boxing champion Harry Simon will now make his comeback in Nairobi, Kenya on Saturday, after the British Boxing Board of Control refused to approve Simon’s scheduled comeback bout in London against Jevgenijs Kiselevs of Latvia.
Simon’s Namibian promoter Kiriata Kamanya of Salute Trading CC issued a statement on Thursday saying that Simon would now fight Douglas Otieno of Kenya at the Sun City Cinema in Nairobi on Saturday evening.
“Salute Trading learnt with the greatest disappointment and dismay late Tuesday night that Simon could not be approved by the British Boxing Board of Control to feature on a bill (under Ricky Hatton Promotions) in Stoke City on Friday night. A decision was hastily made, that in order for Simon to still contest for the Commonwealth Super Middleweight title next month, Simon’s agent agreed to find him a suitable opponent this weekend in Nairobi,” Kamanya said in the statement.
“It is regrettable that Salute Trading had to convey the message to the nation and in particular to Simon’s diehard fans. It is further unfortunate for this to have unfolded in this rather sad episode,” it added.
In the statement, Kamanya apologised for misinforming the public, and blamed Simon’s lawyer Mel Goldberg Law for the misrepresentation.
“Salute Trading cc Boxing and Sports Promotions sincerely regret the use of its being to make an announcement (sic) and share information with members of the media and subsequently with the entire nation at the press conference .. This was done following long deliberations and negotiations with our the in London (sic) Mr Daniel Lutaaya as well as Mr Harry Simon’s lawyers, the Mel Goldberg Law (sic), who made Salute Trading to believe that Mr Simon will fight on Ricky Hatton Promotions on the 19th of February 2010 at Fenton Manor, Stoke City,” the statement added.
Simon’s new opponent Otieno, is 28 years old with an impressive record of 21 victories, of which 10 came via knockouts and three defeats.
At a press conference in Windhoek on Tuesday, Ellison Hijarunguru of the Namibian Professional Boxing Board said that Simon first had to fight a warm up bout before he challenges Charles Adams of Ghana for the Commonwealth Super Middleweight title. If Simon wins his warm-up fight, it is envisaged that the Commonwealth Super Middleweight title fight will be staged in Windhoek with Kamanya acting as promoter.