PROMOTER Nestor Tobias dismissed Paulus ‘Rock’ Ambunda’s axing from the International Boxing Organization’s rankings on Tuesday as “nothing serious”.
Ambunda was removed from the IBO rankings after the MTC Sunshine Academy failed to settle sanction fees for his world title fight against Moises ‘Chucky’ Flores of Mexico in Windhoek on 11 June.
Additionally, the IBO severed its ties with the academy and its chief promoter Tobias over the outstanding payment, the sanctioning body announced on Monday.
Ambunda, who was ranked No.9, lost the IBO super-bantamweight title by unanimous decision to the Mexican, who added it to the WBA interim belt.
“Ambunda is a world-class fighter. Even if he is not rated under the IBO, he maintains his world rating with the other sanctioning bodies. We are already planning his next fight, and that is fortunately not under the IBO, so he will not be affected at all. None of our boxers hold any IBO titles at the moment. But having said that, we have already committed to settling the outstanding IBO amount in September as we just had another massive event that cost us N$2 million,” Tobias said in a statement.
The MTC Sunshine Academy owes the IBO N$231 000, which they have been unable to pay due to a large wage bill incurred during the world title fight, projected to have cost over N$7 million to host.
“With regret, the International Boxing Organization announces the immediate suspension of Nestor Tobias and Sunshine Productions as registered promoters of the IBO due to the failure to pay promoters’ sanction fees and registration fees for the title contest, which took place on 11 June in Windhoek, Namibia between Paulus Ambunda, IBO champion, and Moises Flores, challenger,” said IBO president Ed Levine.
“The IBO also announces the removal and suspension of Paulus Ambunda (No. 9) from the IBO rankings due to the failure to pay the champion’s sanction fees for the fight,” Levine said.
Tobias said the debt was not an indication of poor administration.
“The suspension is nothing serious as it does not relate to an irregularity, but to an outstanding payment,” Tobias noted.
“We have, however, been in constant contact with the IBO office, and assured them that their outstanding amount of N$231 000 will be paid in due course. I am surprised that they have now resorted to this action while we had an understanding, but we remain respectful of their decision,” he stated.
Ironically, the World Boxing Organization on Tuesday endorsed the Namibian boxing establishment and Tobias for their sound operations after Saturday’s No Mercy IV bonanza, in which Paulus ‘The Hitman’ Moses scored a points’ victory over Thompson Mokwana of South Africa to win the WBO Africa lightweight title.
Four other WBO Africa titles were contested in Windhoek on Saturday.
“We are very happy with the manner in which the MTC Sunshine Promotions manages their affairs, always professional, and I can confidently say that Mr Tobias and the MTC Nestor Sunshine Promotions are without a doubt the leading promoter in Africa at the moment,” said WBO Africa/Asia vice chairperson Samir Captan.
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