By Carlos Kambaekwa
WINDHOEK
Namibia’s current Commonwealth Games light flyweight champion Japhet Uutoni has done it once again.
The promising 28-year-old boxer punched his way through to the qualifying rounds of the Olympic Qualifiers for Africa to be hosted by Algeria next month.
The Khomas-based Uutoni made short work of his 4-round bout against David Gabriel of Nampol in the light flyweight division on a unanimous decision.
The victory not only earned Uutoni a berth in the Algerian-bound entourage but also saw him walking away with best overall boxer award on conclusion of the Telecom Namibia Senior Boxing Championship held at Tseiblaagte’s W.K Rover Hall in Keetmanshoop last weekend.
Tobias Munihango had little trouble in dispatching Chris Kangoronduezu by a unanimous decision in the heavyweight division, while Desmond Kasuto also came out victorious against an out of sorts Erasmus Kambalala in the welterweight division.
Super heavyweight boxer Toivo Kamati easily saw off both his opponents Boniface Simasiku and Paulus Jacob with a stoppage and a unanimous points decision respectively.
Khomas’ Johannes Simon preyed on the hapless Frans Naanda from Erongo Region in their flyweight bout and comfortably won the fight, after he was given the nod by all the judges.
Featherweight boxer Andreas Samuel came out smoking with a combination of punches in his fight against Israel Amukwaya – prompting the referee to signal the end way before conclusion of round one.
In the lightweight division, Julius Indongo sent Simon Sebie of Kunene packing with a unanimous decision and Padibwalu Kanyonga scored a fourth round technical knockout win over Tobias Penda from Karas.
Nampol’s Walter Kautondokwa came out tops in his light heavyweight bout with Absalom Nicodemus from the Hardap Region, while Nampol’s middleweight boxer Simon Amwiindili defeated Tuloleni Endjala from Khomas.
Nampol’s Asser Kasuto returned the compliment to his stable mate when he beat Norbert Ashivundi in the bantamweight division.
The Nampol Boxing Club walked away with the overall best place followed by Khomas Region while hosts Karas had to be consoled with the less prestigious bronze medal on the final points standing, after completion of the three-day event, which attracted boxers from all over the country.
Eleven boxers from different weight categories were supposed to have been chosen after completion of the three-day competition to represent Namibia at the Olympic Qualifiers for Africa, but boxing authorities reversed that decision, at least for the time being without providing concrete reasons for delay.
Namibia will be hosting the final Olympic Qualifiers for the African continent from March 23 until April Fool’s day next year.
All together 33 places are up for grabs in different weight categories for Africa at the Beijing Olympics in August 2008, and local boxers have vowed to fully utilize their home ground advantage during the qualifiers and earn themselves places on the Beijing travelling entourage next year.