WINDHOEK – Namibia’s leading professional boxer and former world champion Paulus ‘The Rock’ Ambunda, is in prime condition to take to the international arena once again.
Tomorrow the boxer whose pride and honour has been wounded will have the platform to showcase his mettle after changing gears from the Bantamweight to the Super Bantamweight division. The one-time world champion will be in action for the vacant unified International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Association (WBA) Super Bantamweight title bout against Chilean opponent Cristian Palma at the Omuthiya Park. Ambunda goes into the fight as slight favourite with a remarkable resume of 20 wins and just one defeat in the paid ranks, with 14 of those finishing within the distance.
His opponent Palma boasts an equally impressive record of 19 wins 7 losses and one draw from 27 bouts, which lays the groundwork for an interesting boxing spectacle. Better known as the Rock of Gibraltar in local boxing circles, Ambunda is determined to reclaim his glory days in world boxing and has promised to make short work of his fight against the Chilean.
“This fight is not only about me – it’s about the pride and the honour of my beloved country, so fighting in front of my home crowd will give me the much added motivation, not to disappoint those who will travel the long journey to witness this historic fight.”
The main bout is to be preceded by more than half a dozen mouthwatering undercard fights and two of those bouts certainly have the potential to upstage the main bout. Vikapita Meroro defends his WBO Africa Cruiserweight belt against Tanzanian challenger Alphonce Mchumistumbo, while incumbent WBO Africa Welterweight title holder Tyson Ushona also puts his belt at stake in the main curtain raiser against Ghanaian opponent Ebenhaezer Lamptey in what promises to be a grueling 12 rounds of blood, sweat and tears.
By Carlos Kambaekwa