Boxing

Paulus Ambunda retained his WBO African bantamweight title by the skin of his teeth as he beat Bongani Mahlangu of South Africa on a split decision on points on Saturday evening.

Two of the judges scored the fight 115-113 in Ambunda’s favour while a third scored it 115-113 in Mahlangu’s favour at the end of their 12-round encounter.

Ambunda chased Mahlangu for most of the fight, trying to land his big punches but the South African used his greater reach to good effect, moving out of trouble and keeping Ambunda at bay with an effective jab.

The Far Northern Amateur Boxing Federation (FNABF) on Thursday received an equipment donation worth over N$25 000 from Ndinelao Heitha-Ndingoya.

Heitha-Ndingoya who is a fan of boxing said she noticed the need for equipment in 2009.

“When I visited Helao Nafidi in 2009, I noticed that boxing was the main source of entertainment during a tournament they had,” Heitha-Ndangoya said.

“I saw that they had just one pair of shorts, shirt and gloves that was being shared among six boxers who were also boxing without shoes,” she said.

Paulus “The Rock” Ambunda who is set to defend his WBO Africa bantamweight title on Saturday against South African Bongani Mahlangu might soon get a chance to fight for the world title.

Ambunda who is ranked third on the WBO bantamweight world ratings might be one of the two boxers who will fight for the soon to be vacant world title early next year.

The current WBO bantamweight world champion, Nonito Donaire from the Philippines will step up in weight class.

Paulus “The Rock” Ambunda will defend his WBO Africa bantamweight title for the sixth time at the Windhoek Country Club on November 5.

Ambunda will step into the ring against South African Bongani Mahlangu in a bid to keep the title he won against Lwazi Mzolisa in 2009.

Mahlangu has a record of 15 fights and three losses while Ambunda is still unbeaten after 16 fights.

“I prepared very well for this fight, and I do not have any injury problems at the moment,” Ambunda said.

“I have been waiting for this fight and I know the guy very well.”

Paulus Ambunda will defend his WBO African bantamweight title in a boxing bonanza at the Windhoek Country Club on November 5.

Namibian boxing promoter Nestor Tobias said this on Wednesday at a press conference at the Namibia Sport Commission, where he also donated boxing equipment to the Namibia Sport Commission.

Tobias donated 100 punch bags to the NSC which will be distributed throughout Namibia’s 13 regions to help develop boxing at grassroots level.

Nestor Tobias has announced that he had to turn down a fight for Paulus “The Hitman” Moses for the Interim WBA World lightweight title that was scheduled for October 22 in Panama City.

“The fight is too soon after the fight he had this weekend, he will not have had enough time to recover so we had to refuse the offer,” Tobias said.

“It was a good opportunity, but one doesn’t want to go there to just fight, you also go there to win,” he added.

Moses beat Brazilian Sidney Siqueira on points on Saturday in a 10 round fight.

Paulus Moses beat Sidney Siqueira of Brazil on points over 10 rounds on Saturday night to stay on track for another shot at the WBA lightweight title. Moses was however pushed all the way by the gutsy Brazilian and had to dig deep for the victory.

Moses shaded the opening rounds with his sharp jab but Siqueira came back strongly in the third round when he had Moses in trouble on the ropes with a barrage of blows to the head and body. Moses however recovered and saw out the round.

Paulus “The Hitman” Moses promised a great fight on Saturday when he faces his Brazilian opponent, Sidney Sigueira from Brazil at the Windhoek Country Club.

“I don’t think that he has ever faced a fighter like me and I will show him how when we meet on Saturday in the ring,” Moses told Sigueira ahead of their international bout.

“I have prepared well for my fight and on Saturday he will know how good a fighter I am when he gets my punches,” Moses continued.

33-year-old Sigueira on his part said he would show how people from Brazil box.

Prime Minister Nahas Angula encouraged the Namibian people to attend the International Boxing Championship, which will be held at the Windhoek Country Club on 24 September.

“I want to congratulate the Sunshine Academy for organising this boxing galore and I hope that the Namibian nation will stand and make sure that this event is a success,” Angula said.

“We must all come and support our boxers and at the same time encourage young people to take sport very seriously,” he added.

Harry Simon’s WBF light-heavyweight world title fight, which had been scheduled for September 30, is hanging in the balance after it emerged that both him and his opponent, Ilunga Makabu are battling to lose weight in time for the fight.

According to the promoter of the fight, Knowledge Ipinge, the fight might have to be postponed to give the boxers time to shed the excess weight.

“We are thinking of possibly postponing the fight because both Harry and Makabu are over the stipulated weight for a light-heavyweight fight,” Ipinge said.