2013-10-08Mathias Haufiku RUNDU - Former Swapo Party Youth League Central Committee member, Wensel Mavara, has decided to vacate the political arena and to step into the boxing ring. Mavara spoke about his latest endeavour in an interview with New Era last week in which he vowed to emulate Harry Simon by becoming a world champion at an age, which many consider a sell-by-date for a boxing career. Mavara was granted a professional boxing license on July 30, 2013 by the Namibia Boxing and Wrestling Control Board. “Harry did it at 41, so what will stop Mavara from doing it. I was a boxer before I joined politics, in fact the name Wensel Mavara became popular during my time as an amateur boxer under the Rundu Amateur Boxing Club,” boasted Mavara. Many of those who know Mavara will be keen to see whether he still has what it takes and whether he can turn his fiery rhetoric and outspokenness into killer punches. Mavara is currently based in Swakopmund where he works as a ranger for the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and weighs 64kg, which places him in the light welterweight division. Seasoned boxers such as Tyson Ushona and Sacky Shikukutu are some of the prominent boxers in that division. With over 60 amateur fights under his belt, the outspoken Mavara said he hung up his gloves 14 years ago undefeated to venture into politics. “I do not know why people act surprised when I tell them I am going back to boxing, even Nelson Mandela was a boxer. I will be fighting under-card fights in the welterweight category. I am training in Walvis Bay to be in shape, because I want to be the first boxer to take a professional fight to Kavango,” he said. Mavara reminisced about how he used to dominate the boxing arena in the region in the early 90s and how he ended up being crowned the national champion from 1993 to 1994 in the ‘mosquito weight’ division. But before a professional fight can take place, Mavara says the important thing will be to find sponsors. As an aspirant politician Mavara was very confident and outspoken and spoke out on pressing issues without fear. He now needs to transfer those traits into the boxing ring. “I have fought Mavara during our days as boxers, and I am confident that he can make a comeback,” said his manager Godfried Muyenga. Muyenga however urged Mavara to work on his speed and power, which he currently lacks. “He never lost an amateur fight, because he was an intelligent fighter,” said Muyenga. Both Mavara and Muyenga said well-renowned boxing promoter Nestor Tobias is the boxer’s official promoter. Efforts to get hold of Tobias last week Wednesday proved futile as his mobile phone went unanswered. New Era also tried to contact the promoter yesterday, but without success. The Secretary General of the Namibia Boxing and Wrestling Control Board, Joe Kaperu, confirmed to New Era that Mavara was granted a professional boxing in license in July this year. “He is a pro-boxer now, so he can start throwing the punches. By looking at his amateur background, we could see that he is an experienced boxer,” said Kaperu. Kaperu said Mavara would start fighting as an under-card in order to build up his reputation. “Mavara was in the establishment of the Kavango Boxing Federation, which is a sub-structure of the Namibian Boxing Federation.” According to Kaperu market value in amateur boxing or Olympic-style boxing as it is called today, is very low. “The payment for such boxers is normally dependant on the type of sponsorship their promoter gets. And in most cases, the promoter decides how much the boxer will be paid.” Kaperu also confirmed that Mavara was a national champion before he joined politics. By Mathias Haufiku 2013-10-08Mathias Haufiku
