Windhoek
It has been almost seven months since Namibia’s former world champion boxer, Paulus “The Rock” Ambunda, stepped under the bright lights of a boxing ring to ruffle feathers, but that scenario is likely to change dramatically.
The hard-punching Bantamweight boxer will do battle for the vacant International Boxing Organisation (OBO) Super Bantamweight world title against Leonardo Esperante from Argentina at the Windhoek Country Club, on the 1st of August.
The pocket-sized Ambunda has an impressive CV that includes 22 wins and just one defeat from 23 bouts in the paid ranks, with 16 of those victories finishing inside the distance.
Ambunda’s handler and Namibia’s world renowned boxing promoter Nestor ‘Sunshine’ Tobias, is looking forward to the fight and admits his protégé is hungry to clinch a victory, get the desired results and hopefully win back the fans and redeem himself in the tough-to-crack international boxing market.
“As far as preparations are concerned, we are well on track, our only stumbling block is the race against time to solicit the required amount of funds to stage a fight of such magnitude,” Tobias said.
He was at pains to reveal that the Academy’s annual budget of N$2.5 million from principal sponsor MTC has been depleted: “As it stands, we are faced with an insurmountable task of having to raise a staggering amount of N$3.5 million to make this fight a reality.
Tobias, for the umpteenth time, expressed deep concern and dismay at the absence of TV revenue, an international standard procedure, tailored to keep professional boxing alive. “We are left with no other option than to look elsewhere for additional funding and had to find creative ways to raise funds,” a dejected Tobias fumed.
In a bid to raise funds, MTC Sunshine Academy will host a Fund Raising Gala Dinner at the Safari Hotel in Windhoek on July 24th. Tables are on offer for N$20,000 each.
The fundraiser will also be graced by live musical acts led by the Dakota Township Jazz Band from the Old Location, amongst on a range of exciting activities in lined up for the evening.