By Carlos Kambaekwa
WINDHOEK – Namibia’s internationally acclaimed boxing promoter, Nestor ‘Sunshine’ Tobias, from the country’s leading boxing academy, MTC Nestor Sunshine Tobias Boxing & Fitness Academy, expressed concern over the continued reluctance by local broadcasters to acquire broadcast rights for major local boxing events.
Tobias says promoting and staging international bouts of high quality is a very expensive exercise that needs all stakeholders in the industry to put their shoulder to the wheel if Namibia is to see her boxers progressing and become world beaters.
“As it stands, we are treading on a very thin line because professional boxing is at the threshold of bankruptcy should the status quo continue with local broadcasters expecting to have their bread buttered on both sides. Under normal circumstances, professional boxing event should draw its main income from broadcast rights,” adds the likeable continental award-winning promoter.
In the meantime, Tobias applauded the academy’s principal sponsor, MTC saying the company’s vision in sponsoring needy sporting disciplines, notably professional boxing will go a long way in producing world class boxers.
The former Middleweight/Super Welterweight boxer, one of three local boxers to have joined the professional ranks in neigbouring South Africa alongside the legendary Joseph “Joe Archer” Shikongo and world champion Harry Simon, prior Namibia’s Independence in 1990, invites potential sponsors to join forces with MTC to uplift the sport and take boxing to the highest level.
“I hope and trust our national broadcaster will flight the event live because people from the outlying areas would love to see their heroes in action,” concludes Tobias.