'We are here to stay'Salute Boxing announces next bonanza Bethuel Uushona will get another chance to become a world champion following an announcement from Salute Boxing. Salute Boxing Academy yesterday announced that they are getting ready to host a fight card on 3 December at the Ramatex Building in Windhoek.This will be the first bonanza hosted by the academy since their suspension from promoting fights was lifted by the Namibia Professional Boxing Control Board last month.
It will be the fifth event staged by Salute Boxing since its inception.
Speaking at a press conference, the academy''s spokesperson Fredrich Nghiyolwa said their latest endeavour is an indication of their intention to make an impact in Namibian boxing.
“We are back and we are ready to roll,” he said.
“We will be here for long in the boxing fraternity. You must write that,” he urged.
The academy was suspended in June following reports of violence directed at boxing officials during a bonanza held in Walvis Bay.
But that suspension was lifted in September and the academy is now determined to continue.
“We all now know that suspension was a wrong decision,” said Kiriata Kamanya, Salute Academy''s chairperson.
“We will try to host again and this time we are bringing fights to the capital,” he added.
Second chance
Bethuel ''Tyson'' Uushona will fight in the main bout in another attempt at claiming the WBF welterweight world title.
The Namibian fought for that title against Russia''s Deniz Ilbay in Walvis Bay in June, but lost on a split decision.
It is that decision that sparked the commotion that led to the suspension of Salute Boxing.
According to Nghiyolwa, the academy wrote to the WBF to dispute the outcome of that fight, resulting in the global body ordering a rematch.
But Ilbay opted not to fight Uushona again, which meant that the Russian had to vacate the title.
“So Uushona will fight for the WBF world title again because the other guy did not honour the directive for a rematch,” Nghiyolwa explained.
A number of other fights are scheduled for 3 December.
Fighters likely to fight on the night include Joseph ''Smokey'' Hilongwa, who also acts as a matchmaker for Salute Academy, Albinus ''Danny Boy'' Felesianu, Lukas ''The Demolisher'' Ndafoluma, Amos ''Heavy Duty'' Enkala and Nathanael ''Iron Fists'' Sebastian.
The final line-up and ticket prices will be announced shortly.
HECTOR MAWONGA