It’s Asia v Africa at Ramatex 

Philippus ‘Energy’ Nghitumbwa will take on one of China’s top young boxing prospects, Dekang Wang in the main fight of the Tribute to Dr Hage Geingob Boxing Bonanza at Ramatex on 27 April. 

Nghitumbwa was originally supposed to fight another Chinese boxer and former WBO Oriental super bantamweight champion, Zhong Liu, but promoter Nestor Tobias had to find a new opponent after Liu recently picked up an injury. Tobias, however, said that Nghitumbwa’s new opponent was a top class fighter. 

“It’s going to a big event – it will be Asia versus Africa, Namibia versus China, and champion versus champion because these two kids are both continental champions,” he said at a press conference in Windhoek yesterday. 

“Wang is a highly rated boxer and won the WBA Asian super bantamweight title last year. He is still undefeated and will provide a tough test for Energy,” he added.

Wang is only 24 years old, but is undefeated after nine professional fights, while Nghitumbwa is four years older with a record of 13 wins and two defeats.

Nghitumbwa, a former WBO Global super bantamweight champion, won the WBO Africa super bantamweight title with a first round knockout over South Africa’s Thato Bonokoane in December last year and will be defending that title against Wang, despite the fact that he is not an African boxer, as Tobias explained. 

“If you are a regional title holder you must defend your title every four months, but it’s not always possible to get opponents, so now you can invite any opponent from another continent as well. If Energy wins the fight he will retain the title, but if he loses, Wang will not win the title, but it will become vacant,” he said. 

Nghitumbwa said he was ready and prepared for the fight. 

“Every fight that I fight is like a world title for me. I’m ready to take this guy out in any round, any mistake that he makes, I will use the opportunity, and I’ll make sure that I win the fight,” he said.

Nghitumbwa and Wang will headline an exciting undercard which will feature Namibian drawcards like Jon Jon Ndjolonimus and Jeremia Nakathila, while former continental champion Immanuel Naindjala, who also fought for a world title, will make his comeback. 

In the main supporting bout, Ndjolonimus takes on Clever Sithole from Zimbabwe in an international super middleweight fight over 10 rounds. Ndjolinimus, who is still unbeaten after 17 fights and the current WBO Africa super middleweight champion, will start as a heavy favourite to win the fight against Sithoke, who has a record of 9 wins, 3 losses and 1 draw. 

Nakathila, however, can expect a tough fight from another Zimbabwean opponent, Evans Husayihwevhu in an international lightweight fight over 10 rounds. Nakathila has a record of 22 wins and 4 losses, while Husayihwevhu has a record of 17 wins and 2 losses. 

Naindjala, meanwhile, faces a tough return to the ring when he takes on the unbeaten Mateus Heita over 10 rounds in a featherweight fight. Naindjala has a record of 23 wins, 6 losses and 1 draw, while Heita is unbeaten after 11 fights. 

There will be a total of 11 fights on the main card, starting at 18h00, while there will be several more fights before that on the undercard. 

Tobias called on the Namibian public to come out in numbers to support the event. 

“We want everyone to come out and celebrate our late president because he was a boxing lover and he was our main supporter, especially for myself. He supported me when I was a boxer in South Africa, he supported me when I started the Nestor Sunshine Boxing Academy and he supported me till thee nd so that’s why I want to pay tribute to him,” he said.

Tickets are available at webticket.com.na or at Pick n Pay branches throughout Namibia, or at the MTC Sunshine and Boxing Fitness Academy. A general ticket will cost N$50, a VIP ticket N$500 and a VIP table seating 10 will go for N$20 000.