Tobias takes stock of assets

MTC Sunshine Productions founder Nestor Tobias believes Namibian boxers are under appreciated at home.

He said this in Windhoek yesterday during a send-off event for three of his prized fighters who have upcoming assignments in the USA, Britain and the Philippines.

The highly rated trio are looking to secure statement wins to enhance their credentials and attract bigger fights, Tobias said.

“When you say, you’re in the top 15, it sounds so easy. Go on the rankings and see how many top 15 boxers any country in Africa has, then you can see it’s challenging. We occupy those spots. Number eight, seven and 12,” Tobias said.

“They didn’t just get there by luck. It’s by hard work, dedication and through your support. It’s not the first time we’ve got to that level. That’s why these kids get invitations to fight outside,” he said.

“I believe that when we go outside our record is better than locally. We’ve produced three world champions. Only one of them won the title at home. We’re more effective when we’re outside. I’m not bragging, I’m telling it like it is.”

Jeremiah Nakathila heads to Las Vegas to confront unbeaten American prospect Raymond Muratalla in a lightweight 10-round undercard bout for undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney’s mega clash with Ukrainian Vasyl Lomachenko on 20 May.

Fighting the latter two is on Nakathila’s wish-list, and victory over Muratalla could guarantee that.

“I’m not new to fight at this level. I’m not new to Las Vegas. I’m ready,” Nakathila said.

“These Americans have been mentioning my name. When Americans are mentioning your name, you are at a certain level. Most of the prospects in America have been mentioning my name. So, what I’m going to display there is just another hiccup to show that I’m not at their level. I’m there to smoke them,” he said confidently.

While Nakathila returns to a familiar hunting ground, WBO Global super bantam weight title holder Fillipus ‘Energy’ Nghitumbwa (12-1) makes his foreign soil debut in Manila, where he faces ex-world champion John Riel Casimero (32-4).

The experienced Filipino has held world championships in three weight classes; including the IBF junior-flyweight title from 2012 to 2013; the IBF flyweight title in 2016; and the WBO bantamweight title from 2019 to 2022.

“He’s one of the best boxers to come from the Philippines. We’re not going there to show what we have achieved, it’s to defend our title and keep on growing to get a better opportunity to fight for the world title,” said Tobias.

The soft-spoken Nghitumbwa is confident of upstaging Casemiro under the bright lights of Manila.

“To fight this guy is not easy. He’s a three-time former world champion. It’s something wonderful for me because I’ve wanted to fight someone of his calibre.

“I’ll be defending my title away from home. It gives me motivation. It does not demoralise me that I have to fight outside my home country. I’ll go there and do what I usually do.”

Also venturing abroad for the first time is unbeaten WBO Africa super bantamweight champion Mateus ‘The Beast’ Heita, who takes on Briton Hope Price (9-0) in London on 1 July.

“It will be the first time fighting away from home. So, I’m not gonna leave the fight in the judges’ hands. I’ll judge my fight myself,” Heita said.