GABORONE – For Namibia’s veteran fighter Sakaria ‘Desert Storm’ Lukas, who lost to America’s Raymond Ford late last year, today’s fight against Zimbabwe’s Issa Phiri will serve as a long-waited golden opportunity to redeem himself.
Lukas will today square off against Phiri at the Fairgrounds Holdings Centre in Gaborone in a six-round lightweight fight that will form part of the Fight Night Boxing Championship series in Botswana.
The fight will be an undercard to the national title fight between Tefo Letshikgwane and Onkarabile Mothibedi.
Speaking to New Era Sport during yesterday’s weigh-in, a highly-determined Lukas said his fight against Phiri is what he needed, and he will take the opportunity with both hands.
“I am ready, and I have been preparing for this fight. This is an important bout for me, and I am hoping to redeem myself after my previous loss in the USA. I guess we learn from our mistakes and move on. Tomorrow’s (today) fight will be a great chance to correct my mistakes. This is another big opportunity presented to me, and I will take it as such to ensure I win,” he said.
In terms of his opponent, the 38-year-old Lukas said he does not know much about him, and he is not bothered by him at all.
“I don’t know who he is and what he is capable of, but all I can say is he won’t last long in that ring because I am going to end the bout in the early rounds.”
Meanwhile, Phiri, who seemed to be upbeat, said it is going to be a tough contest to fight a boxer like Lukas. He, however, said despite getting late notice about the fight, he will put out a great performance.
“Sakaria is a good boxer; I have watched him, and all I can say is it’s going to be a tough one against him. But I am ready as a boxer should be. I have been preparing for too long, despite being given a greenlight recently about this fight,” he added.
– mkambukwe@nepc.com