Give me a another chance – Harry Simon

Harry Simon bears the hallmarks of a broken man. Critics have written him off as a fighter, matchmakers and numerous close associates have turned their backs on him and he is financially stricken.

The 42-year-old has not fought for nearly two years, owing to health and fitness struggles, and a lack of backers for his envisaged fights.

Still undefeated, Simon’s last outing in September 2013 ended in acrimony as his opponent Geard Ajetovic from Serbia vehemently disputed the points victory which extended the Namibian’s record to 29-0.

Despite the naysayers and his never-ending woes outside the ring, Namibia’s first-ever world champion is refusing to throw in the towel, saying he still has plenty of fight in him and granted the opportunity, he will demonstrate this ‘god given ability.’

Simon says he is at a loss to explain why a man with his boxing pedigree is unable to secure financiers to stage fights.

Despite his widely publicised hospitalisation for a mysterious ailment for about two weeks last year, the former two-time middleweight world champion is adamant that he is physically and medically capable of fighting.

Simon has also battled to keep his weight in check since being involved in two ill-fated car crashes in the early nineties, which has led him to move from a fleet-footed middleweight superstar to an alienated light-heavyweight campaigner.

“The only reason that I have not been in the ring is because there is a lack of sponsors for the fights to happen,” Simon told The Namibian Sport earlier this week.

“I’m not gonna fail. I just need a chance. I’ve been training. I’m ready to fight. I can still do it,” he added.

“I really don’t know why the (financial) support is not coming. My fans still want me to fight. I get many calls and requests from people who want to see me back in the ring. They believe in me and I want to show them that they are not wrong for being behind me,” Simon said.

One such fan is Kinda Nangolo, the chairman of Kinda Boxing Promotion, who reckons Simon still has a lot to offer.

“Those people who say he is finished and cannot fight anymore should show us why he can’t. Let them give him an opponent who will beat him so that they can prove Harry is finished,” Nangolo said.

“A lot of negative things have been said by people who are not even experts in boxing. The media is also to blame for always publishing such things. These things have damaged Harry’s image and that is why it’s hard for him to get sponsors,” Nangolo added.

The promoter said he plans to have Simon fighting again by the end of July. The fight will be against an unnamed opponent for the World Boxing Union international title, a duel that was shelved due to a lack of sponsorship in early December.

Simon was also expected to grant a rematch to Ajetovic, but that failed to materialise as he was nursing his right arm, which he injured during the IBF contest against the Serb.

That arm has been the subject of much scrutiny over the years after it was reported that he would be unable to fight again when it was severely injured during his second car crash.

“There is nothing wrong with me. I’m fine. I can prove it if I get that chance,” Simon said. “It’s true that I had a bit of a weight problem but I have been training hard and have lost 13kg. I just need to lose six more then I’ll make the weight,” the fighter added.

Nangolo said they are negotiating with unspecified gyms in South Africa to supplement Simon’s training.

“It’s just a matter of coming to an agreement and finding some funds then Harry can go and spar in South Africa. We will announce it once we have organised everything,” said Nangolo.

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