Another boxing event likely to be called off
By Michael Uugwanga
AFRICAN Connection (AC) Boxing and Fitness Academy could see another of its already planned events being called off due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In March, AC Boxing was set to host its event of the year in Windhoek before it was called off due to the first lockdown.
Another event which is set for September 26 is likely to be cancelled due to a recent decision by Government to revert back to stage three of the state of emergency which prohibits contact sports such as boxing.
AC Boxing which is seen as one of the country’s fastest growing boxing academies is home to former world champion Paulus ‘Hitman’ Moses, Olympian Mathias Hamunyela, Shaanika ‘Mosquito’ Alfeus, exciting featherweight/ bantamweight boxer Lukas ‘Desert Storm’ Sakaria and the future of Namibian boxing, Flaime ‘SpecialOne’ Nangolo.
Speaking to Confidente, AC Boxing founder Immanuel Imms Moses said that his academy will continue to plan for the future despite expressing concern over the possibility of yet another event being cancelled.
Moses, despite him being a household boxing trainer, having worked with multiple champions such as Hitman, Paulus ‘Rock’ Ambunda and Julius ‘Blue Machine’ Indongo, is struggling to attract sponsors to his stable.
Other boxing stables such as MTC Nestor Sunshine Tobias Boxing and Fitness Academy, Kilimanjaro Boxing Club and Salute Boxing Academy are financially backed by telecommunications giant, MTC.
“This (Covid-19 pandemic) is unpredictable.
I am not disappointed as I cannot stop it as I also do not want to fight the regulations and protocols of the government.
We are just waiting for things to get better. We will just try to work on a new date, like maybe October or November; otherwise we will have to forget 2020.
“We are renting at the premises … we are not like other academies that are sponsored and staying at Government premises. I do not want to cry over it (sponsorship),” said Moses.
On a positive note, Moses said former triple world champion Indongo is set to make his return inside the ring later this year in USA as contact sports in that country have resumed.
Indongo, who is currently based in the US, is a former unified light-welterweight world champion, having held the WBA (Unified), International Boxing Federation (IBF), and International Boxing Organisation (IBO) titles between 2016 and 2017.
“Julius will have a date very soon as we all know that contact sports in the States have resumed, so Julius is ready any time and I am just trying to see how I can leave for the US,” said Moses.
Moses is a renowned trained who has also worked with other champions like Walter Kautondokwa, Sacky Shikukutu, Wilbeforce Shihepo and Betuel Ushona.