Nam boxing is above average-KaperuMTC, government roles praised The secretary-general of the Boxing and Wrestling Control Board is pleased with the country''s boxing fraternity. Namibia Boxing and Wrestling Control Board secretary-general Joe Kaperu last week lauded the board and the people working in the boxing fraternity.Kaperu believes that Namibia''s boxing has made huge strides since Namibia gained independence 26 years ago.
Speaking in an exclusive interview, he said he was happy with the way the boxing control board has handled its operations over the years.
“Compared to two decades ago, we are definitely above average because there have been a number of boxers who won professional titles across the continent.
“Namibia has shown the world that we are a country with boxing potential after winning more than three world titles and many African titles.
“In boxing, it is clear that you must have a title for the market value and Namibians have been experts when it comes to that.
“The reason is that people with titles get invited for mega-bouts because of the way they are ranked under specific boxing organisations,” Kaperu said.
Boxers like Harry Simon, Paulus Moses and Paulus Ambunda have won world titles over the years.
Kaperu stressed that there is a need for Namibia to produce heavyweight boxers in order to further improve the country''s boxing.
He said he is concerned because Namibia has not had a heavyweight champion since independence.
“Namibia still has a long way to go before it can produce heavyweights because most of the people in the country do not grow bigger due to the genes.
“This has been a very big challenge to boxing promoters for the reason that a few of the big guys prefer something else than choosing boxing as a profession.
“That is why I believe that producing heavyweights has been the biggest challenge which promoters have had over the years,” he said.
Kaperu urged larger men to consider boxing as a profession.
He also advised amateur boxing officials to scout for potential heavyweight boxers in all 14 regions from an early age.
“MTC and the government have done so much for boxing that one will not be able to forget thanking them for the hard work.
“There are also other companies like Telecom which have invested some of their money in the boxing fraternity.
“It is because of these companies that boxing has been doing better than any other sport code in the country.
“I also can''t go without thanking the public who have been supporting boxing for so long.
“I call upon the corporate world to come on board and invest in boxing in order to improve Namibia at world boxing levels,” Kaperu said.
JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA