By Otniel Hembapu
WINDHOEK – With many local opponents refusing to step into the ring or cross paths with him, Namibia’s undefeated and most-promising Featherweight champion, Sakaria ‘Desert Storm’ Lucas has the world at his feet and looks destined to become Namibia’s boxing pride.
He might not yet be a world champion, but his exploits in the ring have already instilled fear in local opponents, while at continental level, opponents are equally ducking under extraneous excuses in their attempt to avoid crossing paths with the Namibian boxing sensation.
On paper, the ‘Desert Storm’, as the pugilist is affectionately known, boasts an unscathed record of 14 wins from the same number of fights and definitely still boosts the same tenacity to preserve his impressive CV for days to come.
After turning professional in 2011, his promoter-cum-trainer Nestor Tobias said: “I have been grooming him and waiting for the right time to allow him to explode and we feel that the time is finally right for him to step onto the bigger scale.”
According to Tobias, all local boxers in his division have refused to get in the ring with him and he does not blame them for avoiding him because ‘Desert Storm’ can at any given minute become a storm when in the ring.
“The boy has a big heart, he is skillful and has incredible power and most importantly he is hungry for success and committed to the sport of boxing. We have been monitoring his progress and he is definitely a prospect for the future and, yes, we have big plans for him, like we have for every boxer at our academy,” said a highly pleased Tobias.
In his last three bouts, ‘Desert Storm’ made his intentions clear when he stylishly defeated equally impressive boxers such as veteran South African fighter Koos Matshiya, Tommy ‘Showman’ Nakashimba and Immanuel Andreki.
“Desert Storm continues to show great maturity and the ability that he’s a world-class fighter in the making, blessed with a strong chin and big heart. The heart makes a boxer; it’s a natural thing. No promoter, manager, coach or fan can make a boxer unless he has a big heart for boxing, that’s the only way he can make it on the bigger stage. Most athletes fail because they don’t have the heart,” adds Tobias
“I’m highly motivated by his discipline and work rate. There’s never a day or time that we had to wait upon his arrival at the gym, he’s always the first to get there. I believe being a member of the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) helps in disciplining him. We are planning his next fight against a top opponent in the next two months,” concludes Tobias.