Maqonda Ndlovu
Flame ‘Special One’ Nangolo produced a dazzling performance as he dominated David Shinuna in a 10-round junior lightweight national title fight at Wanderers Sports Club on Saturday evening.
The Opuwo-based Shinuna was scheduled to fight Hafeni Ngesheya but fought Nangolo after Jona Shikukutu withdrew from fighting Nangolo at the last minute.
Both fighters started off timidly, but Nangolo picked up the pace in the second round, catching Shinuna with a combination of punches all over the body.
Shinuna was clearly looking for a knockout as he continuously tried to catch Nangolo with big shots, but Nangolo used his good body and foot movement to avoid getting caught.
By the sixth round, Shinuna was clearly getting tired as he missed several big shots to the body, with Nangolo increasing his pace and speed.
‘Special One’ caught Shinuna with several shots to the body and head but could not put his opponent down.
At the end of the fight, two judges scored the fight 99-91, with the third judge scoring 100-90, all in favour of Nangolo.
Nangolo paid tribute to Shinuna, saying he had given him tough competition.
This was the second time Nangolo and Shinuna have fought, having exchanged fists in September 2022 at the Nampower Convention Centre, and that time, Nangolo emerged victorious via a split decision.
Nangolo emerged victorious, as all three judges scored the fight in his favour in a unanimous decision.
Shinuna was a late replacement for Shikukutu, who chickened out of the fight with two days left, citing an ankle injury, despite having accepted all the conditions of the fight.
In fact, Shikukutu allegedly went to the extent of downloading pictures from the internet as proof of his injury, a development that riled AC Promotions founder Immanuel Moses, who said he was going to file a complaint with the Namibia Professional Boxing and Wrestling Control Board (NPBWC).
In other fights, Usko Rehabeam lost to NamPol’s Petrus Panduleni Hango on points, with Johannes Andreas beating Andreas Shikongo via last-round knockout.
Ruan Rispel dominated Edward Mbangu in the lightweight category to win via a unanimous decision over four rounds, while Sakaria ‘Desert Storm’ Lucas made easy work out of Zimbabwe’s Patson Mutengwa via a first-round knockout.
Lucas announced that this was his last fight in Namibia, as he will now be fighting international fights, paying tribute to former world champion Paulus ‘The Hitman’ Moses for introducing him to the sport while passing on the torch to Nangolo. Ngesheya put aside his disappointment in changing opponents and accounted for Nicanor Halweendo via points. AC Boxing Promotions founder Moses said he was happy with the outcome of the event despite last-minute changes on the card, saying the government must support initiatives like his so as to keep the youths of the country busy.
He called on corporate entities to invest in sports so as to allow young people to realise their dreams.