Boxing took me off the streets – Shinima
• Not afraid of any challenger
Currently ranked 14th by the World Boxing Organisation in the welterweight division, Charles 'Super Shine' Shinima has the world at his feet.
Limba MupetamiWindhoek
Thirty-year-old Charles ‘Super Shine’ Shinima has an undefeated record of 15 fights.
A tally he plans to maintain going forward, with the hopes of landing a world title shot in the future.
The boxer was born in Ondangwa and started his fighting career in Eenhana at the Omanda Boxing Club – a small school boxing club, which his uncle Jeremia Vanyika introduced him to.
In a one-one one interview with the Namibian Sun Sports Desk, Shinima narrated that his uncle was the head coach of the club and because he lived with him, he would accompany his uncle and help train younger boys until he decided to give it a shot.
“It wasn’t a big boxing club. I can say that we are only two from the club who turned professional, myself and Paulus Shonena. All the guys we started with took different paths.”
Asked what he does apart from boxing, Shinima said he would rather focus all things on boxing.
“My life is not boring outside of boxing, but there is really nothing to tell. I just want people to know me through boxing.”
Inspiration
He went on to mention boxers who inspire him. “Back in the day, there were so many boxers they spoke about on radio and in the newspapers. But the most popular names that stood out were those of Harry Simon Sr and Paulus ‘Hitman’ Moses.
“I didn’t know boxing in detail, but I followed these greats whenever they had fights. I can say that they inspired my fighting game.”
Shinima, who fights out of the MTC Nestor Sunshine Tobias Boxing and Fitness Academy, said he is surrounded by amazing guys. “The whole management is amazing, the academy is the mother and father of boxing in Africa.
“If you follow the academy’s history, you will see that all the boxers who came from this club have great careers. It’s the best club. They took me from nowhere to the level I’m at now. They are doing amazing and I’m happy to work with them.”
The fighter added that boxing - despite the hard work and sacrifices involved - has elevated his life.
“It’s a great feeling to be a sportsman, but that it comes with a lot of sacrifices and hard work. There are many things involved in boxing. It’s just not about throwing punches, or going to the gym.
“You learn a lot, you visit new places. My first flight was because of the sport. I had at that time never been on a plane. I learnt discipline and met a lot of people. Boxing took me out of the streets.”
‘Boxing changed my life’
“It has improved and changed my life. I’m a breadwinner because of boxing. I can pay my own bills – it’s a great feeling.
“Being a champion of any title is a great feeling. I have earned respect. I have high hopes that this will continue pushing me. The focus is to challenge the world title,” Shinima said. He further shared about his last fight against Taewu Olowu of Nigeria at Ramatex in Windhoek, saying it took teamwork to beat him.
“It was a successful night. It’s still fresh in my mind like it was yesterday. Olowu is well-known in Africa and I believe it’s the fight which introduced me to boxing fans,” he said.
“My aim is to challenge anyone. Any opportunity, I’m ready, but I’m targeting those with better ranking than me as that will allow me to climb the ladder faster. I’m not afraid of anyone. I’m a hard worker.”
Shinima is in the same weight class with the likes of American boxer Terence Crawford and if he continues on the right track, he might get a chance to trade leather with him.
High hopes
“We have high hopes. Negotiations are ongoing, [but] it depends on my promoter as to who I get to fight. I will take any shot I get, even against Crawford, we will exchange punches.
“I will show him that I’m not like those other guys he fought. I will go in as myself, I’m not scared. I’m ready, any time, anywhere.”
Shinima concluded by saying that he feels like a teenager.
“I’m still fresh. The body will tell when it’s tired. I can’t estimate how long I will fight, but right now, I feel good and can do more.”
If you would like to be featured in the Namibian Sun sports pages, email [email protected].
Thirty-year-old Charles ‘Super Shine’ Shinima has an undefeated record of 15 fights.
A tally he plans to maintain going forward, with the hopes of landing a world title shot in the future.
The boxer was born in Ondangwa and started his fighting career in Eenhana at the Omanda Boxing Club – a small school boxing club, which his uncle Jeremia Vanyika introduced him to.
In a one-one one interview with the Namibian Sun Sports Desk, Shinima narrated that his uncle was the head coach of the club and because he lived with him, he would accompany his uncle and help train younger boys until he decided to give it a shot.
“It wasn’t a big boxing club. I can say that we are only two from the club who turned professional, myself and Paulus Shonena. All the guys we started with took different paths.”
Asked what he does apart from boxing, Shinima said he would rather focus all things on boxing.
“My life is not boring outside of boxing, but there is really nothing to tell. I just want people to know me through boxing.”
Inspiration
He went on to mention boxers who inspire him. “Back in the day, there were so many boxers they spoke about on radio and in the newspapers. But the most popular names that stood out were those of Harry Simon Sr and Paulus ‘Hitman’ Moses.
“I didn’t know boxing in detail, but I followed these greats whenever they had fights. I can say that they inspired my fighting game.”
Shinima, who fights out of the MTC Nestor Sunshine Tobias Boxing and Fitness Academy, said he is surrounded by amazing guys. “The whole management is amazing, the academy is the mother and father of boxing in Africa.
“If you follow the academy’s history, you will see that all the boxers who came from this club have great careers. It’s the best club. They took me from nowhere to the level I’m at now. They are doing amazing and I’m happy to work with them.”
The fighter added that boxing - despite the hard work and sacrifices involved - has elevated his life.
“It’s a great feeling to be a sportsman, but that it comes with a lot of sacrifices and hard work. There are many things involved in boxing. It’s just not about throwing punches, or going to the gym.
“You learn a lot, you visit new places. My first flight was because of the sport. I had at that time never been on a plane. I learnt discipline and met a lot of people. Boxing took me out of the streets.”
‘Boxing changed my life’
“It has improved and changed my life. I’m a breadwinner because of boxing. I can pay my own bills – it’s a great feeling.
“Being a champion of any title is a great feeling. I have earned respect. I have high hopes that this will continue pushing me. The focus is to challenge the world title,” Shinima said. He further shared about his last fight against Taewu Olowu of Nigeria at Ramatex in Windhoek, saying it took teamwork to beat him.
“It was a successful night. It’s still fresh in my mind like it was yesterday. Olowu is well-known in Africa and I believe it’s the fight which introduced me to boxing fans,” he said.
“My aim is to challenge anyone. Any opportunity, I’m ready, but I’m targeting those with better ranking than me as that will allow me to climb the ladder faster. I’m not afraid of anyone. I’m a hard worker.”
Shinima is in the same weight class with the likes of American boxer Terence Crawford and if he continues on the right track, he might get a chance to trade leather with him.
High hopes
“We have high hopes. Negotiations are ongoing, [but] it depends on my promoter as to who I get to fight. I will take any shot I get, even against Crawford, we will exchange punches.
“I will show him that I’m not like those other guys he fought. I will go in as myself, I’m not scared. I’m ready, any time, anywhere.”
Shinima concluded by saying that he feels like a teenager.
“I’m still fresh. The body will tell when it’s tired. I can’t estimate how long I will fight, but right now, I feel good and can do more.”
If you would like to be featured in the Namibian Sun sports pages, email [email protected].
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