Frans Hantindi, Namibia’s first Pan-African boxing champion 

Namibian national light welterweight and welterweight champion Frans ‘Rambo’ Hantindi says he was drinking and smoking until his 20th birthday.

Despite this, he eventually became a one-time World Boxing Association (WBA) Pan-African welterweight champion.

“I have tried my utmost best and even brought home a few gold medals. Today’s boxers have it all set out, but they must know we have paved the way for them,” he says.

“I started boxing at a time when we just fought for the love of the sport. All we wanted to do was win our fights so that our gifted sportsmen could emulate our achievements. In my case, I was the only breadwinner of my family from a very young age.”

Hantindi was introduced to boxing for the first time when he and his brother used to attend training sessions at Oshakati Stadium as teenagers in 1987.

He says they were not really into the sport but they only attended because they had nothing else to do, and boxing was the only sport that was easily accessible to them.

“When I came to Windhoek in 1988, I met former champion boxer Robert Mutota, who told me he was training at a boxing club at the Katutura Community Hall. He invited me to join him, and that is how I started to like the sport,” he says.

“We trained under the very respected Chris Swartbooi, who was one of the most accomplished black boxing trainers at the time. I really enjoyed the training sessions, because I also met other legendary boxers like Quick Kaperu, who was feared in his division.”

MAIDEN FIGHT

Hantindi fought his first fight during national championships held at A Shipena Secondary School Hall and lost.

“I always consider my maiden fight as a learning curve and my coaches started to work on my shortcomings, and by 1992 I was starting to show some improvement.

“Come the 1993 National Championships at Oshakati I was ready to slug it out seriously,” he says.

“I fought a certain Mutilifa from Walvis Bay for the national light welterweight title and he proved to be a very tough opponent. Although the referee lifted his arm as the winner after the fight, I was later declared champion after a recount of the points by the judges.”

Hantindi successfully defended his title against a tough Frans Mumbuu in 1994 at Oshakati again, and went to represent Namibia at the Zone Six Championships in Botswana.

He was crowned the regional champion after knocking his opponent from Swaziland.

He was named best boxer of the year in 1995 after he literally knocked his opponent from Botswana out of the ring during another regional championship.

“I finally took my final bow in the amateur boxing ranks after I went to represent the country at the Federation of East, South, Central Africa Amateur Boxing Association (Fescaaba) Championships. I lost the title decider and opted out,” Hantindi says.

“I just started to work for TransWorld Cargo when I decided to go professional. Since Namibia did not have a licensed body for professional fights, I asked my good friend Nestor ‘Sunshine’ Tobias who was based in South Africa at the time to get me into the ranks.”

Hantindi had a rocky start to his professional career though.

He took two months’ leave to train in Johannesburg, where he hoped to get his professional boxing licence.

“It looked like smooth sailing for me after I knocked my opponent out in the qualification fight. That was the ticket to my career as a professional fighter.

“I was training together with Nestor (Tobias) under Warren Hally, but my dream debut in the pro ranks was stopped abruptly.

“South African immigration officers just walked into my change room where was I was being prepared for the fight and said they are looking for Frans Hantindi.

“They told me I should not step into the ring, warning that they would arrest and deport me if I dared to,” he says.

He says he had apparently contravened unspecified migration rules.

But as luck would have it Tobias returned to Namibia, armed with a professional boxing licence, and started his MTC Nestor Sunshine Boxing & Fitness Academy, which became home to many Namibian world champions.

Hantindi’s professional career did not start off as he would have wanted it to, as he lost his opening four fights (including a points defeat against fellow Namibian is his debut fight) before he eventually tasted victory against Omar Davila in his fifth bout.

“The pro ranks are a tough experience. I really had a mixed career in the pro ranks. I have won 10, drew two and lost 12 of my fights. But at least I managed to claim the WBA Pan-African welterweight title after beating my Zimbabwean opponent,” he says.

“I had an opportunity to go stay in the United States for a year in 2006 and I was based in San Antonio. I got Mexican coach Emilio Ledezma online and he hosted me for the whole year, while he was also getting me minor first in the United States and in Canada.”

Hantindi, who says that all his achievements were gained through hard work and self-discipline, is advising young boxers to follow suit.

“You have to be disciplined and respect your coach and elders. Do what they are telling you to do, because it is for your own good.

“And stay away from alcohol and drugs. I was drinking and smoking until my 20th birthday. But I quit all those habits when I started to take my career seriously.”

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