WINDHOEK – Namibia’s Immanuel ‘Prince’ Naidjala, who was initially billed to challenge Francis Miyeyusho of Tanzania for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) Africa bantamweight title at Saturday’s Independence Boxing Bonanza, will now fight another Tanzanian opponent Juma Fundi for the same title.
According to promoter Nestor Tobias, the Tanzanian medical team declared Miyeyusho medically unfit to climb into the ring against Naidjala and his compatriot Fundi was considered the right man to face the young Namibian boxing prospect for the coveted WBO bantamweight African crown. Despite the change in opponents, Naidjala remains supremely confident that he can deliver the goods, and said he plans to continue with his initial game plan, despite facing a new opponent. “I will punish him, I don’t care who he is or how he looks like, I’m going to punish him very hard. I’m fighting at home and a win is expected. So I will beat that guy come Saturday, because it’s not just about winning, but to also improve my ranking,” Naidjala promised.
Naidjala holds an astonishing record of 17 wins, 1-draw and only loss in 19 fights and his last bout was in December last year when he suffered his first career defeat against WBO bantamweight world champion Tomoki Kameda of Japan. Fundi, on the other hand, boasts a patchy record of 10 loses and 24 wins from a total 36 fights. In the main two supporting bouts Abmerk Shindjuu has been thrown another lifeline to jack up his act, following his last unconvincing showing, when takes on Alex Kasengele from Zambia in the flyweight division over 8 rounds, while Samuel Kapapu confronts Darius Lupupa also from Zambia in the second supporting bout in the junior lightweight division.
By Otniel Hembapu