The Beast meets Captain Charisma

Mateus ‘The Beast’ Heita and Thato ‘Captain Charisma’ Bonokoane came face to face for the first time yesterday.

This comes ahead of their WBA Pan African featherweight title fight at the Windhoek Country Club on Saturday.

The 26-year-old Heita is one of Namibia’s top prospects, still undefeated after 11 pro fights, during which he also won the WBO Africa Super bantamweight title.

Since then he has moved up to featherweight and will now challenge for the vacant WBA Pan African title against the 33-year-old Bonokoane who has a record of 14 wins, three draws and six defeats.

It will be Bonokoane’s second visit to Namibia after a poor debut last December when Fillipus Nghitumbwa knocked him out in the first round.

At yesterday’s press conference, a philosophical Bonokoane, however, said he believed in himself.

“I’m here for the second time. Unfortunately the first time I lost, but hey, things happened, I know how to lose, and I know how to draw. I know the highs and lows of boxing, so I’m basically an all-round sportsman who knows things through my experience,” he said.

“This is boxing — we can say anything at the press conference, but things can change in the ring and we never know what our future may hold because there are so many surprises in life. But I know that I’m still a very good boxer, who’s always willing to learn,” he added.

Heita, meanwhile, was confident of victory.

“It’s almost time now, the countdown has begun and I’m ready for the fight. This is a great chance for me and come Saturday night, I’ll be victorious and Thato will go home with empty hands — he just came to collect his paycheck,” he said.

In the main supporting bout, Jeremiah Nakathila will take on his namesake, Jeremiah Mhere of Zimbabwe.

Both boxers are 34 years old, but Nakathila, a former WBO Global super featherweight champion with a record of 24 wins and four defeats, will start as the favourite against Mhere who has a record of 10 wins and five defeats.

It will be Mhere’s third visit to Namibia, but he is still looking for his first win here after previous defeats to Sebastianus Nataneal and Flame Nangolo.

Nakathila said he was looking forward to the fight.

“I always get excited when my promoter secures me a fight, and I’d like to thank my coach ‘SBK’ Kaperu and Nicky Natangwe for preparing me. We are ready to shine. I can also warn Thato here that I myself prepared Nata (Heita) — he is ready for this fight and there’s no doubt he will be victorious on Saturday,” he said.

“For my part, I’m ready. I thought my opponent will be here, but maybe he’s still on his way, but I’m ready to destroy him. I’ve beaten some world class boxers before, so come on Saturday and see the level of boxing in Namibia,” he added.

There will be nine more fights on the undercard, featuring some of Namibia’s top young prospects, including the young light heavyweight Pieter Cotze, who will take on Philippus Shikongo in a rematch. Their first fight in April this year ended in a draw, but Cotze said he aims to finish it earlier this time.

“I’ve been training harder than ever. It is a rematch, but this time I’m thinking of finishing the job, bringing all the heat to the table, and showing what we do in practise,” he said.

Some of the other upcoming prospects who will be in action include Nestor Thomas, who is unbeaten after nine fights, and Martin Mukungu, who has won nine and lost two fights, while there will also be a female fight between Soni Ndapandula and ‘Alfa Omega.’

The action starts at 18h30 on Saturday. General tickets are N$200 each or N$20 000 for a box-n-dine table of ten.