After 12 intense and action-packed rounds, Namibia’s Mateus ‘The Beast’ Heita suffered a unanimous decision loss to American boxer Bruce ‘Shu Shu’ Carrington in the early hours of Sunday morning. 

The bout, which served as the co-main event on a Top Rank card at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York, saw Carrington crowned the new WBC Interim Featherweight World Champion.

All three judges were unanimous in their decision, scoring the bout 120-108 in favour of Carrington. The headline bout of the evening featured rising star Xander Zayas, who secured a dominant win over Jorge Garcia.

Though the scorecards reflected Carrington’s control of the fight, Heita’s grit, resilience, and heart were on full display throughout the contest, representing Namibia on one of boxing’s biggest stages.

Just hours after the loss, Heita took to social media to express heartfelt appreciation to his supporters and reaffirm his commitment to the sport and his journey.

“I want to take a moment to express gratitude for your unwavering support for Team Heita.

“Fighting against an incredible opponent like Carrington at Madison Square Garden was truly an honour, and I gave it my all in the ring. Although we didn’t secure the victory this time, I am thankful for the opportunity to showcase my skills,” he wrote.

Heita went on to thank his team and those who have supported him throughout his professional boxing career.

“I would like to thank God Almighty and my team, MTC Nestor Sunshine Boxing Academy, for believing in me and guiding me throughout this journey. I also want to extend my heartfelt thanks to our main sponsors, MTC. Your investment in the sport has made it possible for us to reach new heights.”

In closing, the 27-year-old promised to return stronger:

“To my fans, while it wasn’t my night, I promise to come back stronger and more determined than ever. We are heading back to the drawing board and into the gym soon. Team Heita will rise again. Thank you for always rooting for Team Heita. -lmupetami@nepc.com.na