Ring awaits Indongo, Lukas and Ambunda
Three Namibian boxers - Julius 'Blue Machine' Indongo, Sakaria 'Desert Storm' Lukas and Paulus 'El Jesus' Ambunda - have been thrown a lifeline to conquer the international boxing arena after it was announced that they will fight in November and December respectively.
LIMBA MUPETAMI
WINDHOEK
Boxing is making a return to the scene after being halted for several months due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
With this return, three celebrated Namibian boxers will return to the ring in thrilling fights which might open more doors if executed successfully.
Blue Machine's chance
The first fight will be that of former International Boxing Organisation, International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Association (WBA) super-lightweight world champion Julius Indongo, who will face Kazakhstan's Daniyar Yeleussinov on 27 November in the IBF Intercontinental Welterweight title fight.
Blue Machine is the more experienced of the two as he has 25 fights, 23 wins (12 knockouts), and 2 losses. His last fight on 3 August was against America's Carltavius Jones Johnson.
The 37- year-old Indongo won by technical knockout against Johnson. This all-important victory marked the beginning of his long-awaited comeback trail after losing back-to-back to Terence Crawford in 2017 and to Regis Prograis in 2018.
His younger opponent, 29-year-old Yeleussinov, despite being a rookie will prove to be a tough nut to crack as he is unbeaten with nine fights, five of these through KO's. His last fight was against Alan Sanchez last year on 20 December.
Indongo's trainer, Immanuel 'Ace' Moses, who was speaking from the US, said the boxer is highly motivated and in great shape.
“He has been doing nothing else this side apart from training for about six months.
“We are working with head coaches of former WBC heavyweight champions Deontay Wilder, Willie and Jay Deas to get Indongo his win and to move on to the next great one. It is a great experience as we have options in sparring partners in order to help the boxer in adjusting to different styles. These sparring partners come from different states like Atlanta, Washington DC, Louisiana and Florida.”
A storm is coming
The second fight will be that of 36-year-old Desert Storm, who wants to challenge his undefeated streak in the boxing ring against 29-year-old Jessie Magdaleno of America in a featherweight fight.
A date hasn't been set for this fight but it is believed that it will also take place in late November or early December. This fight will draw the Namibian closer to a chance at a world title shot.
The boxer, who last fought and won against Malawi's Raston Kayira on 6 December last year, has been working hard at training to keep in top shape.
His American opponent also has a good record, having won 27 of his 28 professional fights, while he has suffered defeat once. Magdeleno comes fresh from a fight on 11 June against Dominican Republic's Yenifel Vicente. “Desert Storm has his first sparring on Saturday and is looking good, so we are on the right track,” added Moses.
This is a great opportunity for the two as America is widely regarded as the mecca of boxing.
Experience meets rookie
In addition to these two fights, former three-time world champion, 40-year-old Ambunda will also return to the ring with a fight slated against Slovak professional boxer Martin 'Cracker' Parlagi on 29 December in Prague, Czech Republic for the RBO World Super Bantam Weight Championship.
Ambunda has 30 fights in total, 27 wins (11 by KO) and three losses. Ambunda has had a long layoff, with his last fight having taken place on 11 May last year against America's undefeated Stephen Fulton. He lost the fight.
His opponent, the 32-year-old Parlagi, has 17 fights, 16 wins (nine by KO) and one loss. His last fight, which he won, was on 28 June last year against Patrick Kinigamazi of Rwanda.
This bout will be one in which experience meets a thoroughly untested boxer.
[email protected]
WINDHOEK
Boxing is making a return to the scene after being halted for several months due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
With this return, three celebrated Namibian boxers will return to the ring in thrilling fights which might open more doors if executed successfully.
Blue Machine's chance
The first fight will be that of former International Boxing Organisation, International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Association (WBA) super-lightweight world champion Julius Indongo, who will face Kazakhstan's Daniyar Yeleussinov on 27 November in the IBF Intercontinental Welterweight title fight.
Blue Machine is the more experienced of the two as he has 25 fights, 23 wins (12 knockouts), and 2 losses. His last fight on 3 August was against America's Carltavius Jones Johnson.
The 37- year-old Indongo won by technical knockout against Johnson. This all-important victory marked the beginning of his long-awaited comeback trail after losing back-to-back to Terence Crawford in 2017 and to Regis Prograis in 2018.
His younger opponent, 29-year-old Yeleussinov, despite being a rookie will prove to be a tough nut to crack as he is unbeaten with nine fights, five of these through KO's. His last fight was against Alan Sanchez last year on 20 December.
Indongo's trainer, Immanuel 'Ace' Moses, who was speaking from the US, said the boxer is highly motivated and in great shape.
“He has been doing nothing else this side apart from training for about six months.
“We are working with head coaches of former WBC heavyweight champions Deontay Wilder, Willie and Jay Deas to get Indongo his win and to move on to the next great one. It is a great experience as we have options in sparring partners in order to help the boxer in adjusting to different styles. These sparring partners come from different states like Atlanta, Washington DC, Louisiana and Florida.”
A storm is coming
The second fight will be that of 36-year-old Desert Storm, who wants to challenge his undefeated streak in the boxing ring against 29-year-old Jessie Magdaleno of America in a featherweight fight.
A date hasn't been set for this fight but it is believed that it will also take place in late November or early December. This fight will draw the Namibian closer to a chance at a world title shot.
The boxer, who last fought and won against Malawi's Raston Kayira on 6 December last year, has been working hard at training to keep in top shape.
His American opponent also has a good record, having won 27 of his 28 professional fights, while he has suffered defeat once. Magdeleno comes fresh from a fight on 11 June against Dominican Republic's Yenifel Vicente. “Desert Storm has his first sparring on Saturday and is looking good, so we are on the right track,” added Moses.
This is a great opportunity for the two as America is widely regarded as the mecca of boxing.
Experience meets rookie
In addition to these two fights, former three-time world champion, 40-year-old Ambunda will also return to the ring with a fight slated against Slovak professional boxer Martin 'Cracker' Parlagi on 29 December in Prague, Czech Republic for the RBO World Super Bantam Weight Championship.
Ambunda has 30 fights in total, 27 wins (11 by KO) and three losses. Ambunda has had a long layoff, with his last fight having taken place on 11 May last year against America's undefeated Stephen Fulton. He lost the fight.
His opponent, the 32-year-old Parlagi, has 17 fights, 16 wins (nine by KO) and one loss. His last fight, which he won, was on 28 June last year against Patrick Kinigamazi of Rwanda.
This bout will be one in which experience meets a thoroughly untested boxer.
[email protected]
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