Hitman, Assassin go big

TWO of Namibia’s most prolific boxers will vie for world titles next month in what could turn out to be the most important fights of their careers.

Paulus ‘The Hitman’ Moses will square up against the current champion, Japan’s Yusuke Kobori, on November 24 in Tokyo, Japan, for the World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight title. Ali ‘The Silent Assassin’ Nuumbembe has a date with South Africa’s Mbongani Mwalesa, who is the current World Boxing Federation (WBF) champion.That fight will be decided in Bloemfontein in South Africa on November 14, with Nuumbembe currently fresh from a great victory against Germany’s Daniel Kaefer in their international welterweight bout held in Windhoek last weekend.Namibia’s boxing trainer and promoter, Nestor Tobias, confirmed that the two fights are on and said he was sure the two pugilists will punch their way to famous victories judging from the current shape they are in.Moses, (30), a sensational fighter who currently holds the WBA Pan-African lightweight title as well as the WBA Intercontinental title, aims to write himself into the history books by becoming the first Namibian to hold three major titles at the same time.The fight against Kobori will be his best chance to be regarded as one of the best fighters in that weight category, and the financial rewards will be immense.Moses, who was born at Kapya in northern Namibia, has an outstanding record of 23 fights without a defeat.He has so far traded blows over 132 rounds in total in his career and his knockout percentage stands at 73.SPEED MACHINE Nuumbembe, who has proven himself to be an accurate puncher with great speed, will unfortunately have to relinquish his current WBA Pan-African welterweight title if he enters in the ring against the South African for the new title.Tobias explained that according to the rules the IBF, WBA and the World Boxing Organisation (WBO), his boxer has to relinquish his Pan-African title because he is an official challenger for the world title.Nuumbembe is also the Commonwealth welterweight champion and his recent showing in the ring has been impressive, if not exceptional.Nuumbembe has 24 fights and 20 wins in his professional career and a win against Mwalesa will cement his place as one of the most celebrated boxers in the country.Nuumbembe, a captain in the Namibian Defence Force (NDF), has only lost three times, with one draw, and with age not on his side, at 35 years old, he has proven to be getting better with each fight.The soft-spoken Nuumbembe, who was born in Oshakati, said he is currently working hard in the gym and is ready to move up into top gear for the world title.”This is a good chance for me to prove what I can do best.I will go out there and make sure to capture that title,” he said.Ali ‘The Silent Assassin’ Nuumbembe has a date with South Africa’s Mbongani Mwalesa, who is the current World Boxing Federation (WBF) champion.That fight will be decided in Bloemfontein in South Africa on November 14, with Nuumbembe currently fresh from a great victory against Germany’s Daniel Kaefer in their international welterweight bout held in Windhoek last weekend.Namibia’s boxing trainer and promoter, Nestor Tobias, confirmed that the two fights are on and said he was sure the two pugilists will punch their way to famous victories judging from the current shape they are in.Moses, (30), a sensational fighter who currently holds the WBA Pan-African lightweight title as well as the WBA Intercontinental title, aims to write himself into the history books by becoming the first Namibian to hold three major titles at the same time.The fight against Kobori will be his best chance to be regarded as one of the best fighters in that weight category, and the financial rewards will be immense.Moses, who was born at Kapya in northern Namibia, has an outstanding record of 23 fights without a defeat.He has so far traded blows over 132 rounds in total in his career and his knockout percentage stands at 73.SPEED MACHINE Nuumbembe, who has proven himself to be an accurate puncher with great speed, will unfortunately have to relinquish his current WBA Pan-African welterweight title if he enters in the ring against the South African for the new title.Tobias explained that according to the rules the IBF, WBA and the World Boxing Organisation (WBO), his boxer has to relinquish his Pan-African title because he is an official challenger for the world title.Nuumbembe is also the Commonwealth welterweight champion and his recent showing in the ring has been impressive, if not exceptional.Nuumbembe has 24 fights and 20 wins in his professional career and a win against Mwalesa will cement his place as one of the most celebrated boxers in the country.Nuumbembe, a captain in the Namibian Defence Force (NDF), has only lost three times, with one draw, and with age not on his side, at 35 years old, he has proven to be getting better with each fight.The soft-spoken Nuumbembe, who was born in Oshakati, said he is currently working hard in the gym and is ready to move up into top gear for the world title.”This is a good chance for me to prove what I can do best.I will go out there and make sure to capture that title,” he said.