‘Tito’ comes to town

AUSTRALIAN-based middleweight boxer Johannes ‘Tito’ Mwetupunga is in Namibia to parade his exploits on foreign soil.

The former amateur boxer landed the Australian middleweight title in March this year, after he spent over two years cutting his teeth in the boxing circles in the Asian Pacific. The 34 year-old achieved the historic feat when he defeated Jason Hartmann on a TKO after three rounds. Mwetupunga, who fights under Melbourne-based matchmaker Brian Amatruda, has already successfully defended his title three times and is poised for a shot at the Commonwealth title in the not too distant future. ‘The Commonwealth wants me to fight for the title,’ he said of the title currently held by Briton Martin Murray. However Mwetupunga said he intended to focus on defending his crown Down Under for now and then consider the bait later. His latest title defence was against Peter Mitrevski Jr, winning by unanimous decision over ten rounds in New South Wales.’It’s tough,’ Mwetupunga said of life and competition on foreign soil. ‘It was not easy in the beginning but I worked hard to get where I am.’The burly pugilist said despite being based in Australia, he has not ruled out the possibility of one day returning to feature in local bouts. He said fighting in Australia means he has a better chance of gaining recognition from top boxing stables. ‘I’m still Namibian,’ said the man who has fathered a boy and a girl with an Australian native. ‘There are a lot of African-born boxers in Australia. ‘There’s a lot of opportunities for me there. I’m exposed to good boxers and boxing facilities so it is good for me.’Mwetupunga said he came home to visit and would be returning to Australia before the end of the year. sheefeni@namibian.com.na

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