‘Namibia will soon produce a world champion’

Local boxing promoter Nestor Tobias says Namibia will soon produce a world boxing champion, following Mateus ‘The Beast’ Heita’s recent performance against America’s Bruce Carrington.

Heita lost to Carrington in what many described as a “tantalizing fight”, keeping spectators on their toes. 

The winner and new World Boxing Council (WBC) interim featherweight world champion, Carrington, says he found the going tough.

Speaking to Desert FM this week, Tobias said Namibia has the potential to produce yet another world champion in Heita.

“Even the bookmakers or boxing analysers were surprised by Heita’s talent. They gave him only five rounds to be knocked out, and of course Heita surprised everybody.

“He trained very hard  for that fight. We put him in a hell of a training programme  and he was ready for the  action and did just that at Madison Square.

“Carrington is a very tactical boxer, and very fast. He is very talented and skilled with great moves. But Heita matched him throughout the fight, and although the outcome did not go our way, Namibians’ support for Heita was tremendous. 

“You don’t just wake up from Soweto or Kuisebmund and go to New York City to fight a world title. There is a process from the team –  the team is us, the government, the media and fans.

“I am just a middleman who connects things as a promoter. I am also happy for myself  and the hard work I put in to make things happen,” he said.

“All credit will go to Heita who put up a great and brilliant fight against Carrington. Everybody is impressed with this kid; nobody expected Heita to perform the way he did.”

Tobias likened Heita’s fight to a football match between Manchester United and Arsenal. “Its just gonna be a dream to bring a boxer like Carrington to Namibia,  but it’s doable and practical.

“We have had world title fights in Namibia and one needed a lot of money to bring such fights to Namibia. It is very possible.”

Tobias said promoters do not have a lot of money for paying boxers and camps. 

“We are training at a gym at the Katutura Youth Centre, and to fight Carrington in front of his home crowd is never easy.

“You could see the difference. Our guy Heita is our future champion, and Namibia will soon produce a world champion – which we have done in the past,” Tobias said.

He said he would keep pushing as a promoter.

“United States-based boxing promoters like the veteran Bob Aram and Don King were impressed with Heita. Soon he will get a call for a shot at a world title.” 

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