By Carlos Kambaekwa
WINDHOEK
An eight-member boxing entourage leaves the country later today for Japan to be at ringside when Namibia’s own boxing wunderkind Paulus “the Hitman” Moses, climbs in the ring against Yauhen Kruhlik in a ten round non-title bout in Tokyo on the 19th of this month.
The Belarus born Kruhlik boasts an unimpressive record of 17 fights in the paid ranks with 10 wins and seven defeats – a record that certainly gives the unbeaten Namibian boxer the edge.
Moses has 22 bouts under his belt since turning professional in 2002, winning all of them with 16 of those fights failing to last the full distance.
The bout is billed as the main under card for the WBA Lightweight World title fight between defending champion Jose Alfaro and his challenger, an unknown Japanese chirpy going by the name of Kobory.
The unbeaten Namibian boxer is the current WBA Pan-African Lightweight champion and is also the holder of the WBA Inter-Continental title in the same division. He is the mandatory challenger for the WBA Lightweight World title held by Nicaraguan boxer Jose Alvaro.
However, Alvaro’s handler, the influential boxing promoter Don King reportedly wants his boxer to cling onto his world title for the time being and does not want him to face Moses at this point in time.
The beefy affluent American boxing promoter has apparently dangled an irresistible carrot in the face of local boxing promoter Nestor Tobias, as a “Step Aside Fee” to waive their rights for their mandatory challenge with Alfaro, at least for the time being.
The winner between Alfaro and Kobory will be obliged to fight Moses within a period of 90 days after their scheduled fight next Monday.
Meanwhile, Ali Nuumbembe’s eagerly-awaited return to action is on hold, at least for now, after his much-publicized bout for the WBA Pan African Welterweight title against the champion Welcome Ntshingila has been postponed.
The South African boxer, who trains under the watchful eye of well respected trainer Willy Lock, has sustained an injury in training that renders him ineffective for his clash against Nuumbembe on the proposed date that was initially set for the end of this month. The bout will now take place on the 20th of next month at the Windhoek Country Club Resort.