‘Taks’ ready for fight

NAMIBIAN welterweight boxer Jason ‘Taks’ Naule is facing his toughest test to date – his first title fight tonight at the Windhoek Country Club and Resort.

Naule, 25, will square up against South African Lawrence Ngobeni for the vacant WBA Pan-African Junior Welterweight belt over 12 rounds, as part of Namibia’s 17th Independence celebrations. Naule, who has won all 10 his professional fights so far, said at the weekend that he has been training for the fight since December.”I am fit and ready and certainly not scared,” said Naule, speaking from his room at the Kalahari Sands Hotel.His opponent, Ngobeni, is much older (34) and more experienced, having won 37 from 47 fights with 10 losses.Ngobeni, a three-time South African champion and WBU Intercontinental champion, arrived yesterday before the official weigh-in session which was conducted at the Namibia Boxing Federation’s head office.Naule said he has not seen Ngobeni in action but know he was good in his heydays.”I want to win because I want to go for a world title,” said Naule.But he needs a couple more victories before he could go for a world title, his trainer Nestor Tobias said.Naule was the Namibian national lightweight and light welterweight champion as an amateur fighter.For the last two days before the fight, Naule and the other boxers who will fight on the night are doing light strength training at the Virgin Active gymnasium.Meanwhile, Namibia’s Paulus ‘The Hitman’ Moses will defend his WBA Intercontinental Lightweight title against Beka Sadjaia from Georgia.Moses is as determined as Naule, saying that he has no fear for any opponent when he fights on home ground.The Namibian will have an advantage over his Georgian counterpart in terms of height, but a win will be determined by his form on the night.Hitman earlier said he was ready to fight and was sure of a win after having spent over six months preparing for the fight.Hitman is one of the most prolific fighters in the country and has so far won all 19 his professional fights.He believes that he will take out his opponent in the sixth round, a round which has become his trademark phase for flooring his opponents.There will also be eight undercard fights which will square up the local fighters against South African boxers.Matthew Niitembu will open the proceedings tonight against Albino Felesianus, who will make his pro debut in the featherweight category on the night, before Simon Neghodi takes on Abmerk Shindjuu in the flyweight division.Tommy Hango will take to the ring in the third fight when he faces Bhekimphilo Mlilo in the welterweight fight, before Jatoorora Tjingaveta fights Peter Malakia in the junior lightweight division.There will be a second junior lightweight fight which will see Junias Amunyela taking on Victor Khota from South Africa, before Namibia’s super middleweight champion, Vikapita Meroro, exchanges blows against South Africa’s Kenneth Masekwane.Amunyela has so far won all his six professional fights, while Meroro has also archived the same feat in his weight category.Siegfried Kaperu will be next up in the featherweight bout in what could be an interesting fight when he lines up against Siyabulela Zigula from South Africa.Namibia’s super middleweight champion, Wilbeforce Shihepo, will bill the vacant WBA Pan African title fight, as he takes on Emmanuel Gwala in a six round fight.The first fight starts at 18h30, with spectators expected to fork out N$100 at the entrance.Nampa and Own ReporterNaule, who has won all 10 his professional fights so far, said at the weekend that he has been training for the fight since December.”I am fit and ready and certainly not scared,” said Naule, speaking from his room at the Kalahari Sands Hotel.His opponent, Ngobeni, is much older (34) and more experienced, having won 37 from 47 fights with 10 losses.Ngobeni, a three-time South African champion and WBU Intercontinental champion, arrived yesterday before the official weigh-in session which was conducted at the Namibia Boxing Federation’s head office.Naule said he has not seen Ngobeni in action but know he was good in his heydays.”I want to win because I want to go for a world title,” said Naule.But he needs a couple more victories before he could go for a world title, his trainer Nestor Tobias said.Naule was the Namibian national lightweight and light welterweight champion as an amateur fighter.For the last two days before the fight, Naule and the other boxers who will fight on the night are doing light strength training at the Virgin Active gymnasium.Meanwhile, Namibia’s Paulus ‘The Hitman’ Moses will defend his WBA Intercontinental Lightweight title against Beka Sadjaia from Georgia.Moses is as determined as Naule, saying that he has no fear for any opponent when he fights on home ground.The Namibian will have an advantage over his Georgian counterpart in terms of height, but a win will be determined by his form on the night.Hitman earlier said he was ready to fight and was sure of a win after having spent over six months preparing for the fight.Hitman is one of the most prolific fighters in the country and has so far won all 19 his professional fights.He believes that he will take out his opponent in the sixth round, a round which has become his trademark phase for flooring his opponents.There will also be eight undercard fights which will square up the local fighters against South African boxers.Matthew Niitembu will open the proceedings tonight against Albino Felesianus, who will make his pro debut in the featherweight category on the night, before Simon Neghodi takes on Abmerk Shindjuu in the flyweight division.Tommy Hango will take to the ring in the third fight when he faces Bhekimphilo Mlilo in the welterweight fight, before Jatoorora Tjingaveta fights Peter Malakia in the junior lightweight division.There will be a second junior lightweight fight which will see Junias Amunyela taking on Victor Khota from South Africa, before Namibia’s super middleweight champion, Vikapita Meroro, exchanges blows against South Africa’s Kenneth Masekwane.Amunyela has so far won all his six professional fights, while Meroro has also archived the same feat in his weight category.Siegfried Kaperu will be next up in the featherweight bout in what could be an interesting fight when he lines up against Siyabulela Zigula from South Africa.Namibia’s super middleweight champion, Wilbeforce Shihepo, will bill the vacant WBA Pan African title fight, as he takes on Emmanuel Gwala in a six round fight.The first fight starts at 18h30, with spectators expected to fork out N$100 at the entrance.Nampa and Own Reporter