Josef wins first Africa title, Ndafoluma retains crown

By Michael Uugwanga

MTC Salute Boxing Academy has produced another African champion in 29-year-old Immanuel Josef who won the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) Africa Flyweight title on Sunday against South African boxer Sihle Jelwane in Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa.
Another boxer from MTC Salute Boxing Academy, Lukas ‘The Demolisher’ Ndafoluma successfully defended his WBO Africa middleweight title against Angolan boxer Christiano Ndombassy.
Josef has a record of 16 fights, 11 wins, four defeats and one draw which was against fellow Namibian Fillemon Nghutenanye in April, while his four defeats came at the hands of Jackson Chauke and Sikho Nqothole of South Africa in 2018, and early back-to-back defeats to fellow Namibians, Timoteus Shuulula and Jafet Amukwa in 2014 in his first two professional bouts.
Speaking to Confidente, Josef said he is very excited to be an African champion and that he dreams of one day fighting for a world title.

“It feels really good to be a champion especially in Africa.

I worked really hard for this fight. My aim is always to fight for bigger things,” he said.

Ndafoluma (35) was making his first title defence since winning the WBO Africa crown against Malawian boxer Simon Tchetha in February this year.
Ndafoluma boasts a record of 23 fights, winning 19, is a former International Boxing Organisation (IBO) All-Africa middle champion and World Boxing Federation (WBF) Intercontinental middle champion.

Josef and Ndafoluma were accompanied to South Africa by their trainer Eliphas Namundjebo.
Meanwhile in Moscow, Russia last week, another product of the MTC Salute Boxing Academy, Nathanael Kakololo lost to Russian boxer Andranik Grigoryan.

Kakololo received praises from his trainer Tobias Nashilongo despite the defeat.
The defeat was also Kakololo’s second in a space of a month after suffering defeat in June against Oleg Malinovskyi of Ukraine in Kiev.

“Although Kakololo lost he really put up a good show. He really marketed his name because after the fight almost everyone in Europe was talking about Kakololo,” said Nashilongo.