Boxing

Julius Indongo won the WBO Africa junior welterweight title in stunning style with a second round TKO of James Onyango of Kenya on Friday evening.

Indongo sent Onyango crashing to the canvas with a left hook and although the Kenyan managed to beat the count, he was clearly unsteady on his feet and the referee called an end to the fight after 29 seconds of the second round.

In the main bout Tyson Ushona easily beat Pascal Bruno of Kenya on a unanimous points decision over 10 rounds in an international welterweight encounter.

It’s all systems go for Friday night’s “No Mercy” Boxing Bonanza after the weigh in was successfully concluded on Thursday.

Tyson Ushona, who will top the bill, weighed in at 67,50kg for his international welterweight fight against Pascal Bruno of Kenya.

It was a bit over the welterweight limit of 66,6kg but promoter Nestor Tobias explained that both camps had agreed to a lessening of the rules since it was a non title fight.

Nestor Tobias has refuted claims that only his boxing academy will benefit from MTC’s sponsorship of boxing, saying that it would benefit boxing as a whole in Namibia.

MTC on October 2 announced a sponsorship of N$7,5 million over three years to the Nestor Tobias Boxing Academy as its headline benefactor, but Tobias said that all boxers in Namibia would benefit.

“We are working for this country as a whole and our aim is to develop boxing and take it to the highest level,” he said.

Mobile Telecommunications Company (MTC) on Tuesday announced a sponsorship of N$7,5 million over three years to boxing.

At a press conference at its head office in Olympia, MTC spokesman Tim Ekandjo said that MTC would provide material and financial support to the Nestor Sunshine Boxing Academy as its headline benefactor.

Tyson Ushona will top the bill against Pascal Bruno of Kenya at a Boxing Bonanza scheduled to take place at the Windhoek Country Club on October 12.

Ushona, who is currently ranked second in the world by the World Boxing Organisation, has a professional record of 26 wins, 2 defeats and one draw, while Bruno has a record of 16 wins, 14 losses and three draws.

Julius Indongo will also take on James Onyango of Kenya for the vacant WBO Africa Junior Welterweight title, while other Namibian favourites like Vikapita Meroro, Sacky Shikukutu and Abmerk Shidjuu will also be in action.

Namibian boxing is growing from strength to strength with a record seven boxers currently ranked among the world’s top 15 in their various weight categories by the World Boxing Organisation.

Tyson Ushona and Paulus Ambunda lead the way, with Ushona ranked second in the welterweight category while Ambunda is ranked third in the bantamweight category.

Gotlieb Ndokosho will top the bill at a boxing bonanza organised by Kinda Promotions on September 29 when he takes on Rajabu Maoja of Tanzania for the vacant IBF Intercontinental Africa Featherweight title fight at the SKW Hall in Windhoek.

Namibian boxing promoter Nangolo Kinda announced the fight at a press conference on Monday, adding that there would be seven other fights on the undercard, including the first ever professional female fight in Namibia.

Immanuel Naidjala maintained his unbeaten record as a pro boxer when he beat Luis Singo of Ecuador on an eighth round Technical Knock Out on Saturday evening.

Naidjala was well ahead on points when the referee stopped the fight on the advice of the ring doctor after an accidental clash of heads.

Naidjala was leading 68-61, 70-59, 70-59 when the fight was stopped. Naidjala knocked Singo down three times but the nuggety Ecuadorean got up each time and frustrated Naidjala by continuously moving out of each.

It’s all systems go for Saturday night’s boxing bonanza after all the boxers passed their medicals and had their weigh ins on Friday afternoon.

The only boxer who had a slight weight problem was Wilbeforce Shihepo but he managed to make the required limit after a short workout.

Shihepo will defend his WBO Africa Super Middleweight title against compatriot Johannes Mwetupunga over 12 rounds.

Namibian boxing promoter Nestor Tobias has vowed to take boxing to the next level in Namibia despite the fact that local boxing is still struggling to raise sufficient sponsorships.

Tobias will be hosting his fourth professional tournament of the year at the Windhoek Country Club on Saturday evening, but like two of the previous three, he still does not have a sponsor for the event and will have to foot the bill from the ticket sales and out of his own pocket.

Tobias was however still hopeful of finding a sponsor and called on the corporate world to come on board.