‘Hitman’ to defend title as Naule vies for Pan-African belt

BARELY a month after knocking out South Africa’s Anthony Tshehla in an international bout, Namibia’s Paulus ‘The Hitman’ Moses will climb through the ropes to defend his coveted WBA Intercontinental title on March 20.

The Namibian now stands on 19 fights without a loss and this fight will pit him against Georgia’s lightweight champion, Georgie Beka Sadjaia, in a pre-Independence Day 12-rounder in Windhoek. Moses is also the World Boxing Association (WBA) Pan-African lightweight champion and is currently the only Namibian to hold two titles at the same time for close to a year.Trainer and boxing promoter Nestor Tobias yesterday told The Namibian Sport that Moses was supposed to fight opponents from either France or Ukraine earlier, but this could not happen because they could not obtain television rights in Europe.He said most sports television channels were focusing on the Uefa Champions League and thus had no room for televising the fight.He said the WBA requires a titleholder to defend his title within six months.But this did not happen as Moses has held on to the title since August 19 last year.Tobias said despite Moses coming out of an international bout late last month, it was important for him to defend his title before the WBA decides to strip it from him.He said Moses is ready at the moment and will go into the fight with confidence a day before Namibia’s Independence anniversary.”He is always ready because he works hard.He trains twice a day.He does running and strength exercises in the mornings and does his usual boxing routine in the afternoons.He am happy with his progress so far and I think he is more than ready for the fight,” said Tobias.When asked about his preparations yesterday, Moses said he will go against Sadjaia as any other opponent.”Boxing is not easy.But with what I have been doing so far, I know I am fit enough to face any opponent irrespective of where he comes from.I am going to celebrate Independence Day with a victory and I urge all my supporters from the west, east, south and northern parts of the country to come in numbers to see the champion in action.I am going to take him out, that is for sure,” said the optimistic 26-year-old boxer.Moses has never dropped a fight and said he wants to maintain that record until he becomes a world champion one day.He is currently ranked number nine by the WBA in the lightweight division and sees a chance to have a go at the world title one day.Tobias said the boxer is eager to reach the top and he has no doubt that his commitment to the sport will pay off one day.Tobias said Moses is currently the number one pound-for-pound boxer in the country due to his superb record and there is a bright future for him.On the March 20 fight, Tobias said they have not seen the opponent in action, but he believes it is going to be a tough fight.”We are not going to take him lightly.We have done our preparations and we want to put up a good, entertaining fight, with the ultimate result of winning it,” he said.Namibia’s Commonwealth champion Ali ‘The Silent Assassin’ Nuumbembe is also expected in the country soon and will be on the ringside to witness the fight.Tobias, who has relied on the support of several local companies to put his boxers on the international map, said he was still finalising details regarding the sponsorship of the fight, which will also feature Jason ‘Taks’ Naule.Naule will be vying for the Pan-African junior welterweight title for the first time.Naule is undefeated in 10 fights and his bout against Lawrence Ngobeni from South Africa will bill the main fight.Naule defeated Wellington Phiri from Zimbabwe in his last fight in Oranjemund.Naule, who is also from the Nestor ‘Sunshine’ Tobias Boxing and Fitness Academy, is a skilful, aggressive and technical fighter who has ambitions of reaching the top in the trade.Naule is also 26 years of age and has a chance of becoming the third Namibian to win the Pan African title after Moses (2006) and Rambo Hantindi in 2002.Hantindi has since lost the title and is currently pursuing his professional career in the United States.Tobias said Naule is a natural boxer who is tough and hardly gives up, even if he against the ropes.”He becomes aggressive as the fight wears on and I have no doubt that he will do a much better job than his opponent on the night,” he said.There will be nine undercards on the night, which will mainly be among Namibian and South African fighters.Moses is also the World Boxing Association (WBA) Pan-African lightweight champion and is currently the only Namibian to hold two titles at the same time for close to a year.Trainer and boxing promoter Nestor Tobias yesterday told The Namibian Sport that Moses was supposed to fight opponents from either France or Ukraine earlier, but this could not happen because they could not obtain television rights in Europe.He said most sports television channels were focusing on the Uefa Champions League and thus had no room for televising the fight.He said the WBA requires a titleholder to defend his title within six months.But this did not happen as Moses has held on to the title since August 19 last year.Tobias said despite Moses coming out of an international bout late last month, it was important for him to defend his title before the WBA decides to strip it from him.He said Moses is ready at the moment and will go into the fight with confidence a day before Namibia’s Independence anniversary.”He is always ready because he works hard.He trains twice a day.He does running and strength exercises in the mornings and does his usual boxing routine in the afternoons.He am happy with his progress so far and I think he is more than ready for the fight,” said Tobias.When asked about his preparations yesterday, Moses said he will go against Sadjaia as any other opponent.”Boxing is not easy.But with what I have been doing so far, I know I am fit enough to face any opponent irrespective of where he comes from.I am going to celebrate Independence Day with a victory and I urge all my supporters from the west, east, south and northern parts of the country to come in numbers to see the champion in action.I am going to take him out, that is for sure,” said the optimistic 26-year-old boxer.Moses has never dropped a fight and said he wants to maintain that record until he becomes a world champion one day.He is currently ranked number nine by the WBA in the lightweight division and sees a chance to have a go at the world title one day.Tobias said the boxer is eager to reach the top and he has no doubt that his commitment to the sport will pay off one day.Tobias said Moses is currently the number one pound-for-pound boxer in the country due to his superb record and there is a bright future for him.On the March 20 fight, Tobias said they have not seen the opponent in action, but he believes it is going to be a tough fight.”We are not going to take him lightly.We have done our preparations and we want to put up a good, entertaining fight, with the ultimate result of winning it,” he said.Namibia’s Commonwealth champion Ali ‘The Silent Assassin’ Nuumbembe is also expected in the country soon and will be on the ringside to witness the fight.Tobias, who has relied on the support of several local companies to put his boxers on the international map, said he was still finalising details regarding the sponsorship of the fight, which will also feature Jason ‘Taks’ Naule.Naule will be vying for the Pan-African junior welterweight title for the first time.Naule is undefeated in 10 fights and his bout against Lawrence Ngobeni from South Africa will bill the main fight.Naule defeated Wellington Phiri from Zimbabwe in his last fight in Oranjemund.Naule, who is also from the Nestor ‘Sunshine’ Tobias Boxing and Fitness Academy, is a skilful, aggressive and technical fighter who has ambitions of reaching the top in the trade.Naule is also 26 years of age and has a chance of becoming the third Namibian to win the Pan African title after Moses (2006) and Rambo Hantindi in 2002.Hantindi has since lost the title and is currently pursuing his professional career in the United States.Tobias said Naule is a natural boxer who is tough and hardly gives up, even if he against the ropes.”He becomes aggressive as the fight wears on and I have no doubt that he will do a much better job than his opponent on the night,” he said.There will be nine undercards on the night, which will mainly be among Namibian and South African fighters.