Naule confident of victory

Namibia’s Pan African champion Jason “Taks” Naule is in great shape and confident of retaining his title against South Africa’s Kaizer Mabuza this evening.

Naule will defend his WBA Pan African Junior Welterweight title against Mabuza, in the main bout of the Independence Boxing Bonanza at the Windhoek Country Club, which Telecom Namibia has sponsored to an mount of N$100 000. “I’ve had some great training sessions with my partners and I’m ready to defend my title,” he said.Naule won the WBA Pan African at last year’s Independence Boxing tournament when he beat South Africa’s Lawrence Ngobeni with a great display on points over 12 rounds.Since then he defended the title once, beating Zimbabwe’s Elson Muhampi on a second-round knockout in Ongwediva last November.Naule is now unbeaten after 12 professional fights, and although Mabuza is more experienced, with a record of 18 victories and four defeats, this did not deter him.”I don’t know much about Mabuza.I know his record and I know he has been around for a long time and challenged for a couple of titles.He might be experienced, but I’m sure that I will win the fight,” he said.Naule promised his fans a great fight, saying that they should turn up in big numbers.”For my fans I just want to say that they can expect a great fight.They must just come to the fight and I promise them a lot of fire works.I’m planning to finish all the rounds.I want to win by points this time because I would like to give him a beating for the whole 12 rounds,” Naule said.Naule’s sparring partner Vikapita Meroro, who is fighting on the main undercard fight against Chamunorua Gonorenda of Zimbabwe in the Super Middleweight division, is also in great shape, according to Naule.”Vikapita has been training very hard with me and he is in excellent shape.He has just gone jogging again,” Naule told Namibia Sport yesterday.Meroro lost his first professional fight to Stan Kastanov of Ukraine last year but got back on the winning trail when he beat Edward Nhundu and Sipho Mukhiti of Zimbabwe in October and November last year.The foreign boxers were supposed to be present at a press conference scheduled to coincide with the weigh-in yesterday, but were delayed.However, they were scheduled to arrive on a later flight.The rest of the programme is as follows: Welterweight: Tommy Hango (Namibia) v Modecai Donga (Zimbabwe) Lightweight: Jatoorora Tjingavete (Namibia) v Ali Phiri (Zimbabwe) Lightweight: Tommy Nakashimba (Namibia) v Wandile Masekleku (South Africa) Flyweight: Abmerk Shidjuu (Namibia) v Sibusiso Nqacati (South Africa) Lightweight: Gottlieb Ndokosho (Namibia) v Lebo Mboniswa (South Africa) Junior lightweight: Abraham Ndeandapo (Namibia) v Peter Malakia (Namibia) Tickets for the Independence Boxing Day tournament are N$100 per person and are available at the Namibian Boxing Control Board’s offices and the Windhoek Country Club.The tournament is scheduled to start at 18h30.www.namibiasport.com.na”I’ve had some great training sessions with my partners and I’m ready to defend my title,” he said.Naule won the WBA Pan African at last year’s Independence Boxing tournament when he beat South Africa’s Lawrence Ngobeni with a great display on points over 12 rounds.Since then he defended the title once, beating Zimbabwe’s Elson Muhampi on a second-round knockout in Ongwediva last November.Naule is now unbeaten after 12 professional fights, and although Mabuza is more experienced, with a record of 18 victories and four defeats, this did not deter him.”I don’t know much about Mabuza.I know his record and I know he has been around for a long time and challenged for a couple of titles.He might be experienced, but I’m sure that I will win the fight,” he said.Naule promised his fans a great fight, saying that they should turn up in big numbers.”For my fans I just want to say that they can expect a great fight.They must just come to the fight and I promise them a lot of fire works.I’m planning to finish all the rounds.I want to win by points this time because I would like to give him a beating for the whole 12 rounds,” Naule said.Naule’s sparring partner Vikapita Meroro, who is fighting on the main undercard fight against Chamunorua Gonorenda of Zimbabwe in the Super Middleweight division, is also in great shape, according to Naule.”Vikapita has been training very hard with me and he is in excellent shape.He has just gone jogging again,” Naule told Namibia Sport yesterday.Meroro lost his first professional fight to Stan Kastanov of Ukraine last year but got back on the winning trail when he beat Edward Nhundu and Sipho Mukhiti of Zimbabwe in October and November last year.The foreign boxers were supposed to be present at a press conference scheduled to coincide with the weigh-in yesterday, but were delayed.However, they were scheduled to arrive on a later flight.The rest of the programme is as follows: Welterweight: Tommy Hango (Namibia) v Modecai Donga (Zimbabwe) Lightweight: Jatoorora Tjingavete (Namibia) v Ali Phiri (Zimbabwe) Lightweight: Tommy Nakashimba (Namibia) v Wandile Masekleku (South Africa) Flyweight: Abmerk Shidjuu (Namibia) v Sibusiso Nqacati (South Africa) Lightweight: Gottlieb Ndokosho (Namibia) v Lebo Mboniswa (South Africa) Junior lightweight: Abraham Ndeandapo (Namibia) v Peter Malakia (Namibia) Tickets for the Independence Boxing Day tournament are N$100 per person and are available at the Namibian Boxing Control Board’s offices and the Windhoek Country Club.The tournament is scheduled to start at 18h30.www.namibiasport.com.na