Boxer Hitman faces uphill battle in title fight

ONE of Namibia’s favourite boxers, Paulus ‘Hitman’ Moses, faces an epic challenge when he squares up against Russia’s Andrey Devyataikin in a WBA Intercontinental 12 rounder, billed for August 19 at the Windhoek Country Club.

Moses, who is the current WBA Pan African Lightweight champion, has 16 straight wins from his short professional career and aims to extend that record in grand style, in possibly one of his most difficult showdowns in the ring. The Namibian faces a seasoned Devyataikin who has 29 fights under his belt of which he won 14, while he also fell 14 times, with one draw.The 31-year-old Devyataikin has scored five knockouts.The Russian will come to Namibia having lost his last fight against his countryman Arman Sargsyan in a local lightweight fight held on June 22 in that country.Prior to that fight, Devyataikin lost to Danish boxer Martin Kristjansen in a WBC Slavic Countries lightweight title after he was floored in round eight.He beat Russia’s Delshot Abdullaev to claim the WBA Intercontinental Lightweight title last year on December 23, a day before his 31st birthday.Moses will be challenging for the title and his trainer and boxing promoter Nestor Tobias believes that the Namibian will claim it.Moses, a clever boxer who always strives to keep his opponents on the back foot, has never found himself on the floor in any of his fights.He challenged for the WBA Pan African title in August last year and claimed it in impressive fashion when he sent South Africa’s Joni Simpiwe to the canvas in round six.In that fight, Moses showed that he was destined for greater heights as he proved to be a true champion, while the support from his many fans ignited his performance.Moses made Simpiwe look ordinary despite the experience he has gained as a professional fighter and the hype that was built around him by the South African media.Speaking to The Namibian Sport after that fight, Tobias said: “Moses was ready for any challenger who may come his way.The combination of speed and power showed by him clearly demonstrated the talent he has and what awaits him in the future.”Next up was Zimbabwe’s Micheck Kondwane in March this year, who in fact provided for a great encounter that went the distance.Moses won that fight on points, but he was still in a class of his own as he landed more punches than Kondwane, who fortunately held on to the last round despite showing signs of tiring in the last three rounds.Kondwane did however not survive the last round intact and was taken out in the second minute.In his recent fight on June 10 held in Johannesburg, the South African challenger for the title, Siviwe Ntsinghila, landed an enormous number of punches and was knocked out in the seventh round.This fight was historic for Moses as it was screened live across the globe on the SuperSport television channel.Nestor said Moses needed the exposure for the world to see “what precious but dangerous diamond Namibia has in boxing”.Devyataikin, who was born in Chelyabinsk in Russia, will be coming to Namibia hoping to defend his title with success, but that will be decided in the ring.The Namibian Sport this week visited the Nestor ‘Sunshine’ Tobias Boxing and Fitness Academy where Moses trains and discovered that the boxer was in top shape.Moses takes to the road at 05h00 in the morning, goes to the gymnasium at midday, and rounds off the day with a rigorous training session under the watchful eyes of his trainer Tobias in the evening.Moses left all the talking to Tobias, who further said that Moses has developed into a more mature fighter and has realised that discipline and commitment will be the most important factors in his career.”He is very committed, focused and highly disciplined.He does everything on time and he knows what he wants,” said Tobias.Tobias said his boxer’s preparations would be boosted by two sparring partners who will be arriving from Zimbabwe and South Africa.The fight, which will be done in a Box and Dine fashion, will be preceded by six undercards and will be sponsored by Telecom Namibia.The Namibian faces a seasoned Devyataikin who has 29 fights under his belt of which he won 14, while he also fell 14 times, with one draw.The 31-year-old Devyataikin has scored five knockouts.The Russian will come to Namibia having lost his last fight against his countryman Arman Sargsyan in a local lightweight fight held on June 22 in that country.Prior to that fight, Devyataikin lost to Danish boxer Martin Kristjansen in a WBC Slavic Countries lightweight title after he was floored in round eight.He beat Russia’s Delshot Abdullaev to claim the WBA Intercontinental Lightweight title last year on December 23, a day before his 31st birthday.Moses will be challenging for the title and his trainer and boxing promoter Nestor Tobias believes that the Namibian will claim it.Moses, a clever boxer who always strives to keep his opponents on the back foot, has never found himself on the floor in any of his fights.He challenged for the WBA Pan African title in August last year and claimed it in impressive fashion when he sent South Africa’s Joni Simpiwe to the canvas in round six.In that fight, Moses showed that he was destined for greater heights as he proved to be a true champion, while the support from his many fans ignited his performance.Moses made Simpiwe look ordinary despite the experience he has gained as a professional fighter and the hype that was built around him by the South African media.Speaking to The Namibian Sport after that fight, Tobias said: “Moses was ready for any challenger who may come his way.The combination of speed and power showed by him clearly demonstrated the talent he has and what awaits him in the future.”Next up was Zimbabwe’s Micheck Kondwane in March this year, who in fact provided for a great encounter that went the distance.Moses won that fight on points, but he was still in a class of his own as he landed more punches than Kondwane, who fortunately held on to the last round despite showing signs of tiring in the last three rounds.Kondwane did however not survive the last round intact and was taken out in the second minute.In his recent fight on June 10 held in Johannesburg, the South African challenger for the title, Siviwe Ntsinghila, landed an enormous number of punches and was knocked out in the seventh round.This fight was historic for Moses as it was screened live across the globe on the SuperSport television channel.Nestor said Moses needed the exposure for the world to see “what precious but dangerous diamond Namibia has in boxing”.Devyataikin, who was born in Chelyabinsk in Russia, will be coming to Namibia hoping to defend his title with success, but that will be decided in the ring.The Namibian Sport this week visited the Nestor ‘Sunshine’ Tobias Boxing and Fitness Academy where Moses trains and discovered that the boxer was in top shape.Moses takes to the road at 05h00 in the morning, goes to the gymnasium at midday, and rounds off the day with a rigorous training session under the watchful eyes of his trainer Tobias in the evening.Moses left all the talking to Tobias, who further said that Moses has developed into a more mature fighter and has realised that discipline and commitment will be the most important factors in his career.”He is very committed, focused and highly disciplined.He does everything on time and he knows what he wants,” said Tobias.Tobias said his boxer’s preparations would be boosted by two sparring partners who will be arriving from Zimbabwe and South Africa.The fight, which will be done in a Box and Dine fashion, will be preceded by six undercards and will be sponsored by Telecom Namibia.