By Carlos Kambaekwa
WINDHOEK – The usually business boozing northern town of Oshikango, holed up on the Namibian/Angolan border will be a hive of activity tomorrow night when a significant chunk of the country’s leading professional boxers climb in the ring to trade leather against foreign opponents in crucial career-defining bouts.
At the centre of attention is the main bouts, featuring former world champions Paulus “Hitman” Moses and Paulus “the Rock” Ambunda, in what promises to be sweat, blood and tears affair against their equally formidable opponents.
Incumbent World Boxing Organization (WBO) International Lightweight champion Paulus Moses, is a man possessed with anger and has promised to beat the lights out of his Argentinean opponent, Jorge Rodriquez.
The pair squares off in an International Lightweight 12-rounder in the main bout and the Namibian promised not only to win the fight and give his local fans a great Christmas but to hurt the Argentinean. “When I hit, I really hit,” said Moses amidst loud laughter from the audience during a well-attended press conference in Windhoek, on Wednesday.
Ambunda, holder of the combined World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) Super Bantamweight titles, will be out to make amends after missing out on a crack at the World title after he was grounded by a hand injury prior to his eagerly awaited world title bout against Quigg Scott.
The former Namibian world champion comes face to face with Tshifiwa Munyai from South Africa. Hard-punching Cruiserweight boxer and current WBO Africa champion Vikapita “Beastmaster” Meroro confronts Zimbabwean Tiney Maridzo, in a none title eight rounder on the same billing.
Crowd favourite, Peter “the Butcher” Malakia and old foe Tommy “the Lion” Hango, will take on each other for the umpteenth time in a non-title eight rounder in the welterweight division.
In the Super Bantamweight division, Nathaniel Kamati takes on Thembani Hobyane (SA) over six rounds while Gabriel and Jonas Mateus trade blows over four rounds.
In other under card bouts, Mike “Silent Assassin” Shonena squares off against Nikola Mutonhara of Zimbabwe in a Welterweight 6-rounder while Johannes Mathias and Isaak Anjala takes on each other in the Featherweight division over 4-rounds in one of 5 all-Namibian affairs on the night.
Immanuel Mungandjela will be out to improve his patchy record of 5 wins and 3 losses from 8 fights in the paid ranks when be confronts the equally unimpressive Mathias Shiimbi in the Junior Welter eight division over six rounds.
Lightweight rookie boxer Natanael Kakololo will be up against Daniel Hosea in a non title four rounder to complete the line up in the under card bouts.