Shihepo reported for assault

A case of assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm (CR164/10/2018) has been opened against Namibia's light heavyweight pugilist Wilberforce Shihepo, aka 'Black Mamba' after he allegedly choked Xavier Beukes in a bar in Rehoboth on Saturday night.Video footage, which has gone viral on social media shows Shihepo walking up to Beukes, holding him in a tight neck grip until he loses consciousness.According to Beukes, the boxer's actions were unprovoked and he claims not to have had any communication with him prior to the incident.“I know the guy is a boxer, but I did not have any quarrel with him. He just came up behind me while I was buying something at the counter and choked me. I fell hard on the floor and had to get stitches on my forehead as a result. He just ran away after this,” the Beukes said.Shihepo, who is a free agent, last fought professionally in June, losing the IBF International Cruiserweight title in the 10th round to Russian Aleksei Papin. Shihepo is currently out on bail after he was arrested for negligent driving which led to the death of a six-year-old child and an adult man.Shihepo faces four charges related to the accident that took place on 28 October 2017, about 30km south of Okahandja.He is charged with culpable homicide, another count of failing to stop at the scene, removing the vehicle from the position it came to rest in and failing to ascertain the injuries of persons involved in the accident.The boxer was unreachable for comment with many locals on social media backing the victim to get justice.“So he just came in. Went straight to you and strangled you. Just like that? For nothing? Whilst you don't know him? He must be cuckoos (sic),” Ousie Re said.Another comment regarding the incident came from Samantha Mc Kay: “Absolute violation of your human rights. He should be ashamed of himself. The word bully comes to mind.”A local boxing trainer who refused to be named said he heard about the incident but that it would be immature to comment. “All I can say is that you need to act in a respectable manner, even if someone provokes you, especially if you are a public figure because people will just end up pointing fingers at you if something happens.”The incident in which Shihepo finds himself in is frowned upon by the constitution of the World Boxing Council. It states that a boxer should behave as a good sportsman in and out of the ring, in public statements, and in attitude towards all members of the public, the boxing community, and media.The chief administrator of the boxing control board Hendrik Mapele said he hadn't seen the video but that everyone is governed by law and should act accordingly. He also stated that boxers are human like anybody else and not immune. He promised to get hold of Shihepo in order to get clarity on the assault.LIMBA MUPETAMI

Shihepo reported for assault

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-07

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Shihepo reported for assault

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-07

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