By Carlos Kambaekwa
WINDHOEK
Namibian boxer Jason “Taks” Naule’s reign as WBA Pan-African Junior Welterweight champion lasted just 12 months, to be precise.
The much-trumpeted WBA continental title fight between Namibia’s Jason Naule and South African challenger Kaizer Mabuza turned out to be a nine days’ wonder after the 26-year old boxer failed to move up a gear during his 2nd title defence at the Windhoek Country Club Resort & Casino last Thursday.
The South African boxer came out smoking and made his intentions very clear as early as the first round – peppering the out of sorts defending champion with a combination of jabs and uppercuts that left Naule in slumber land for the better part of the one-sided bout.
Naule never really came out of his blocks and dismally failed to trouble his younger opponent with decent blows normally expected from a champion, and it was evident from the onset that only a miracle would save him but fate dictated otherwise, and by the time the boxers went into the 10th round the South African had already garnered enough points to wrestle the title away from the ineffective champion.
Sensing his boxer was on a fool’s errand, local boxing guru and promoter Nestor Tobias, who also doubles up as Naule’s trainer, could no longer endure the pain inflicted on his lad and rather resolved to throw in the towel halfway through round ten – an act that signalled that they had no further interest in the contest despite two rounds remaining.
A clearly disappointed Tobias tried to keep a straight face when applauding Mabuza for his resounding victory after the fight but was quick to point out that his boxer did not lose because of his opponent’s prowess.
“Taks was definitely not himself during the fight and was totally out of his depth, but I will give him some time to recover sufficiently before we sit down and engage in some serious talks as to what really went wrong because I strongly believe the boy’s mind was troubled by personal problems outside the ring,” fumed Tobias.
“We will try by all means to get to the root of his personal problems and we will surely go flat out and put our shoulder to the wheel in an effort to ensure he reclaims the title, and I’ve no doubt that he possesses the ability to become champion again if he goes into the ring in the right frame of mind.”
In the under cards, Vikapita “Beast Master” Meroro convincingly dispatched his Zimbabwean counterpart Chamunorua Gonorenda on a unanimous points decision in their six-round super middleweight fight.
Welterweight boxer Tommy Hango returned the compliment in familiar fashion with a well-deserved victory over Modecai Donga from Zimbabwe over six rounds, and Jattorora “The Sting” Tjingaveta proved a hot potato to handle in his lightweight bout with Ali Phiri – to complete the misery for the Zimbabwean travelling entourage that saw the trio returning home empty handed.
In other action, Tommy Nakashimba defeated Wandile Masekleku of South Africa in their 4-round lightweight bout.
In the first of two flyweight bouts on the night, Simon Negodhi got the nod from all judges in his fight against Klaas Mboyane from South Africa while compatriot Abmerk “Dam” Shidjuu hoisted the Namibian flag high by beating the hell out of his South African opponent Sibusiso Nqacati.
Gottlieb Ndokosho came out tops in his lightweight fight against Lebo Mboniswa from South Africa and in the only all-Namibian contest, Abraham Ndeandapo beat Peter Malakia on points in the junior lightweight division.