Namibian boxing sensation Jeremiah Nakathila is feeling the love from his compatriots following his impressive victory over former world champion, Mexico’s Miguel Berchelt recently in Las Vegas, US. Nakathila, 32, 23-2 (19 KOs) dominated Berchelt on his way to a sixth-round stoppage win as a stunned crowd watched in absolute awe.
The hard-hitting boxer, who moonlights as a warrant officer in the Namibian Police Force, is now back home in Namibia taking a small breather before embarking on another global trek in search of dominance. BoxingAfrica.com have a chat with Nakathila, and here is what he had to say.
Congratulations on your recent emphatic victory over Mexico’s Miguel Berchelt. Tell us how you feel about this accomplishment?
I feel great. I’m proud of myself. I’m proud of my team for that big win at that level, and this victory just motivates me even more. It also goes to show the world the type of fighter that I am. I can do it.
Heading into that very important fight of your life, what was your game plan?
Before the fight, me and my team watched Miguel’s previous fights and we looked at his weakness, we also looked at his strengths. We looked at my style as well and made some adjustments ahead of the fight, and it paid off. For me, I don’t really do game plans. I only watch videos and see what they do well. So that’s all that I really look at. Then I come up with a game plan when I’m already in the ring. That’s when I look at the style of my opponent. When I know the style, I become wary of his favourite punches.
During the fight, did you at any point feel that you needed to knock him out?
Yes. I’m blessed with power, so when I started landing powerful shots on him, I knew it was not going to be a long night. One way or another, I knew I’m going to knock him out, especially starting from round three going, I could see already I’m going to knock him out.
Looking at Berchelt record, were you worried about his reputation as an experienced knockout puncher?
No, I was not worried about that because I looked at the type of boxers he had knocked out. I could already see I’m not on the same level as those he stopped. Those were just weak opponents he stopped or knocked out. I was not scared of his knockout power.
Walk us through the fight. You scored a knockdown in the third round before smoothly going on to win the fight. Were you surprised by that knockdown?
When I dropped him, I was kind of surprised but when I continued to jab at him, I felt the jab was hitting the target. It was straight on the chin. That’s where I aim, and my eyes were open.
At what point of the fight did you realise that Berchelt couldn’t handle your punches?
I realised he couldn’t handle my power in round three. From round three onwards, I could see he could feel me. The body language said it all; how he run away and it was becoming evident that he was feeling my power.
In round six, you landed a number of big punches, including a powerful right that sent his mouthpiece flying. Did you feel that the end was near for him?
Yeah, in the sixth round I was coming for a kill. I was going to stop him or knock him out badly. Luckily, the referee stopped the fight. I could see that right hurt him because he had lost power. He was exhausted from my punching power. I was planning to be closer to him and hit him very hard.
Were you surprised when the referee stopped the fight?
No, I was not surprised because I could see he was hurt. Everyone could see that. For his health, it was the best option. You could even see his concentration was on the mouthpiece when he was supposed to focus on the fight. I could have hit him badly during that particular moment.
In your opinion, what do you think are some of the factors that contributed to your dominant win over the veteran Berchelt?
It’s just my preparation. I prepare hard for the fight. I was ready mentally and physically. I had tough sparring with different opponents. I did everything I had to do to win that fight.
That was a big win for you, especially considering that you lost to Shakur Stevenson the last time you fought in the US. What did you learn from that loss [against Stevenson]?
From the Shakur loss, I learned a lot of new things and also learnt that you should never leave the decision in the hands of the judges. Now I know what it takes to fight and win at that level.
Having faced him, how would you rate and describe Stevenson?
He’s a good boxer, a talented young man. Overall, he’s really great.
You are now a big player at lightweight division. Who are some of the names you are targeting in that division?
My dream is to become a world champion. I know all the belts are with David Haney and George Kambosos Jr. I’m looking for a world title or an eliminator. I’m ready to fight any of the top boxers in the lightweight division. I’m not scared of them.
Would you like to take a bout in Namibia or fight in the US again?
For me, I can fight anywhere. I’m comfortable at home or away. So, I would have no problem fighting in the US again. That’s where big fights are happening anyway [USA]. I’m not selective about location. When I become a world champion, then I will have the power to say I want to fight at home.
What has your management shared with you regarding your next move?
My promoter Nestor Tobias always has a plan for me. He’s the one who knows better. I leave that to him. I have a lot of respect for him. Without him, I would not be where I am now. He’s the best promoter in Africa. He’s not just a promoter but a close friend, so I have confidence in him as he has good plans for me. Nestor is the father of boxing in Namibia. He has produced multiple world champions.
Being one of your biggest achievements, how have you celebrated the victory over Berchelt?
Definitely, we did celebrate. We had a big party on Saturday (2 April) at Low Key Pub with my friends in Namibia. It was such a great day. I enjoyed everything from the meat and good music at my pub.
Personally, what does this win mean for you, and how big is it for Africa boxing?
It’s a major win for me because it will now open up opportunities for bigger fights. And I’m grateful to my promoter for organising such a big fight for me. This is a big win for Africa too. It shows we can win anywhere in the world in that dominant fashion. It has inspired many pro boxers in Africa and at home in Namibia. Right now, my aim is to become the fifth Namibian boxer to win a world title. – boxingafrica.com