Tobias vows to continue developing prospects

MTC Nestor ‘Sunshine’ Tobias Boxing and Fitness Academy has vowed to keep pushing as hard as ever to identify and develop more boxing champions.

The promoter Nestor Tobias says they are on course with their plans of bringing more titles to the country, as well as training upcoming talent.

The stable which has produced top-caliber boxers who went on to win world and African titles is confident seeing their current numbers as a future indicator.

“As a stable constant growth is still our mandate and we wish to keep developing boxers in the country. We have already started with our processes.

“I always believe a year is just a number that has changed while a new year is probably a time we asses our progress and also build towards gaining more titles,” Tobias said.

The boxing stable has not produced a world champion for almost eight years now and Tobias feels the time is now to do so.

Harry Simon, Paulus ‘Hitman’ Moses, Paulus ‘The Rock’ Ambunda and Julius ‘Blue Machine’ Indongo are the only Namibian fighters to have won recognised world title belts in various weight divisions.

The last Namibian to hold a world title was Paulus Ambunda – in the twilight of his career, before his retirement – when he won the International Boxing Organisation (IBO)’s world super bantamweight belt against Muhamad Ridhwan in the latter’s backyard in Singapore in September 2018.

However, Ambunda conceded the world championship in his first defence against Stephen Fulton of the USA, in Fairfax, Virginia in May 2019.

Since then, lightweight Jeremiah Nakathila has been a strong contender who fought top American opponents in Las Vegas. However, after three costly defeats and at 35 years of age, his chances of securing another meaningful shot appear to be slim.

“It takes a lot of investment to create a champion and we continue thanking MTC for having sponsored us for so many years, as well as PstBet has also come on board,” Tobias says.

“We however still urge the corporate community to fund the sport given the significance it brings to the lives of those that go on to win big trophies.

“People need to understand is that we have done it before and we still believe Namibia can produce world champions, provided that we continue to get the funding,” Tobias said.



Top prospects

Among the current crop of Namibian fighters lurking at a possible breakthrough to the highest level, Paulinus “Jon Jon” Ndjolonimus and Phillipus “Energy” Nghitumbwa are among only three currently appearing in the top-15 ranking lists of any of the recognised world governing bodies.

The 37-year-old Ndjolonimus (unbeaten in 19 fights; 17 knockouts) is the WBO’s number 4 contender of super middleweights, while Nghitumbwa (29 years; 15-2; 13 KOs) is placed fourth by the WBO and 12th by the WBC among the junior featherweight division.

More recently, Mateus “The Beast” Heita (13-0;9 KOs) has joined the WBO featherweight rankings at 13th position and is the youngest of the three at 27 years.

Super welterweight Charles Shinima (32 years; 18-1; 12 KOs) has also previously appeared in world rankings lists and could conceivably put forth a challenge as a former WBO Africa welterweight title holder.

Former Commonwealth Games gold medallist Junias Jonas has had two professional fights in 2023 and 2024 and won both against little-known compatriots, but at 31 years of age he has a long way to go before getting his name into any serious title conversations.

Meanwhile Harry Simon Junior also holds an undefeated pro record (22-0-1; 15 KOs), currently fighting at welterweight as well. The only blemish so far was the split decision draw in his most recent fight against fellow unbeaten countryman Abed Shikongo (10-0-1; 5 KOs) last December. At 27, Simon is also younger than the 35-year-old Shikongo.