Taxi driver battles toward boxing success

He is one taxi driver you do not want to mess with and his customers can rest assured they are safe when he is behind the wheel. He wakes up every morning at 04:00 to go to gym and feeds his son be ferrying people across the length and breadth of Windhoek. He may also be the next big thing in middleweight boxing, but Walter The Executioner’ Kautondokwa says he has had a tough life and struggled without a job for years. “I always to start with the training and after that I have to go to the taxi rank for few hours, and then I go rest because I get tired, he said. Kautondokwa said he makes a living for himself and his six-year-old son by driving a taxi. And yes ladies, he does have someone special in his life. But it is in the ring that he shines bright like a diamond. He is undefeated and has won seven professional fights, six by knockout. Asked where his nickname Executioner’ comes from, he said he used to watch videos of American light heavyweight champion Benard The Executioner’ Hopkins while he lived in Ondangwa. “Hopkins had a killer punch, and my two hands are very dangerous. I took that name from Hopkins, he said. “I chose to be a fighter, because when I was at school I always wanted to fight and I was always in the principal’s office. I had a Harry Simon T-shirt I used to wear all the time, said Kautondokwa, who added he is inspired by Simon and Hopkins. Kautondokwa, who boxes out of the Nestor Tobias stable, vowed to work harder, although at this stage he does not have a sponsor. “To fight for the world title you have to learn in the gym and listen to your promoter. He will then give you more fights. Things will go well. What I have to do is to manage my time, so that I can reach my goal. Kautondokwa started boxing in 2006. In Ondangwa, he was initially promoted by Katutu Gideon. He came to Windhoek at the end of 2006, as he had heard that there were many quality boxers in the capital. He began attending the Nampol Boxing Academy. In 2007 he was chosen to fight in the national championships in Keetmanshoop and won a gold medal. Kautondokwa also fought in Olympic qualification bouts in 2008. He also won medals in the other regional competitions. In 2009 and 2010 he was without a job and struggled with his boxing. However, he did attend the national championships in 2010 at Walvis Bay. “I was working hard to get a driving licence so that I can start driving a taxi for money and to get back to the gym. He returned to gym at the end of 2012 after a long break and the next year he turned professional. Kautondokwa will be fighting in the Independence Day Boxing Bonanza on March 20 at Ramatex. WINDHOEK-LUKAS NAMBALA