Namibians still champs of Africa

Charles Shinima and Paulinus Ndjolonimus successfully defended their WBO Africa titles at Ongwediva on Friday night.

Shinima kept hold of his welterweight title after defeating Tanzanian Idd Pialari on a unanimous decision.

The MTC Sunshine Together As One Part 10 event’s co-headline act, Ndjolonimus, defended his WBO International super middleweight title with a fourth-round technical knockout of Joseph Maigisiya, also from Tanzania.

Shinima dropped Pialari as early as during the first round, but the Tanzanian survived the count.

Pialari resorted to avoiding close exchanges, measuring his punches and clenching for the remainder of the 12 rounds.

Nonetheless, Shinima did enough to sway the judges’ decision.

“He knew I had power. He tested it in the first round. Since then he was alert to run away from me in all the rounds, but I did enough to land some punches. It’s a successful defence,” Shinima said on Friday.

Likewise, Ndjolunimus’ power was too much for Maigisiya, whose corner decided they had seen enough after their fighter was pummeled for four rounds.

The Tanzanian started promisingly in the opening round by taking the fight to ‘John John’.

But once the power-punching home favourite found his range, he had the beating of Maigasiya.

“I feel proud of the victory. I didn’t do what I wanted to do because of the other fighter, but I will take the win,” Ndjolinimus said.

“Thanks to my family. I see them standing there supporting me, and thanks to my fans who drove from my village. I’m happy they came.”

Meanwhile, Immanuel Mundandjela won his welterweight national title fight against Hedison Nghipondoka.

After 10 rounds of entertaining boxing, the judges did not doubt who the winner was.