Nakathila's chance nears

Nakathila's chance nearsNo more side-stepping the boxer Jeremiah 'Low-Key' Nakathila's dream of a world title shot is just a few months away if negotiations go as planned. LIMBA MUPETAMI

WINDHOEK



Namibian super featherweight Jeremiah 'Low-Key' Nakathila and American boxer Shakur Stevenson are very likely to headline the ESPN card in New York City on 12 June.

However, Bad Left Hook reported that the matchup might not be finalised until after Jamal Herring and Carl Frampton's fight on 3 April. Should the winner of that fight vacate or retire, as both men have intimated, this will pit number one Stevenson against number two Nakathila for the title.



Negotiations ongoing

Nestor Tobias, Nakathila's promoter, said at the moment details are still being discussed and negotiated and that local media will be the first to know.

Nakathila is on a 10-fight winning streak, all by knockouts. He has a record of 22 fights, 21 wins (17 knockouts) and one loss.

He lost a chance to fight for a world title by rising featherweight champions twice in a row, first by Oscar Valdez and then Stevenson. Valdez successfully challenged World Boxing Council (WBC) champion Miguel Berchelt.

Stevenson, who has 15 fights, all of them wins and eight knockouts, has been waiting for a title opportunity since moving up to the junior lightweight division.

He last fought in December, beating Toka Kahn Clary by unanimous decision, and his promoter, Top Rank, doesn't want to delay his return any longer.

The two boxers are both at the top of their game. Nakathila has great punching power and precision, whereas Stevenson possesses an excellent jab, sublime defensive ability and also boasts punching precision.