Windhoek — Great sportsmen are those who have developed a knack for entertaining the paying customers and one such sportsman is none other than Namibia's own Buster Mathis, aka Ernst Tjeriko.

He made opposing fans eat out of his gloves as the slippery boxer went unhindered about his business in the boxing ring - much to the delight of boxing fans in years gone by.

Buster, better known as Mataes, was probably the country's most entertaining boxer of all time and was reminiscent of the great American icon Cassius Clay to be known as Mohammed Ali in later years.

A light middleweight boxer by international standards - Buster had to negotiate his way past opponents much heavier than him including heavyweights but the slippery village lad who honed his boxing skills under the able tutorship of trainer Jannie Smit, had little difficulty in outsmarting his opponents with the precision of a poker player.

Buster's main interest in what would later turn his whole life around was influenced by two distant cousins Mika Kauami and the late Nandjou "Joe" Hambira whenever the pair visited the Waterberg enclave during school holidays.

"I was only 12 then, and I must confess Mika and Joe made a big impression on me with the fashion in which they went about their business in the boxing ring. When I cane to Windhoek in 1968, I immediately joined other talented young boxers such as Stanley 'Stigga' Kozonguizi, Erastus 'Uazuvirua' Hambira, Joseph Shikongo better known as Joe Archer and Ferende 'Reiney' Tjitemisa at the Old Location," recalls Buster.

There were no weight limits in local boxing during those days and young Buster made his debut against the more streetwise Stanley Kozonguizi, who easily waltzed past him on points after three rounds. However, the raw "Village Boy" had the last laugh when he defeated Kozonguizi hands down in the return bout at the Katutura Community Hall in Windhoek.

"My next opponent was the late Kandjambi 'Katjaeta' Veseevete and after scoring a unanimous points decision over him I went on to beat the likes of Joe Murangi, Simon 'Lefty' Katuru, Fanuel 'Ngatangue' Tjingaete, Noag Tjombonde and the tough as steak George Mukuahima in subsequent fights before seeing off the bulky Hijandama Tjahikika at Walvis Bay."

Buster made history when he was chosen to represent South West Africa at a provincial tournament in Johannesburg, South Africa together with childhood buddy Joe Hambira and three white guys whose names he can't remember.

He won all his preliminary fights with aplomb and only lost in the final against a South African opponent and had to be satisfied with a silver medal.

"In those days it was extremely difficult to win on points against a white opponent if not by a knockout - finish and klaar.

"One of my teammates won a bronze in the heavyweight division while the rest failed to clear the first hurdle with the exception of Joe Hambira who lost in the second bout."

Upon his return from Johannesburg, people started to take note of Buster's exploits in the boxing ring and some of the country's well-established promoters took him under their wing.

"There was this white guy going by the name of Mannie van Zyl (promoter) and Oom Jannie Smit (trainer) who came on board and boxing changed for the better as the pair brought professionalism into the sport and the perks were also good because one would take home a cool N$150, which was a lot of money at the time."

In his entire illustrious boxing career, Buster only boasts a meagre six stoppages by his own standards courtesy of technical knock-outs (TKO).

"I was enjoying boxing so much that I was really not looking at ending the contest with a knock-out as that would have taken the sting out of the sport.

I liked the fanfare and toying around with my opponent gave me great satisfaction.

"The heavyweight guys were my favourite prey because they were hopelessly too slow and got easily agitated when things did not go their way."

Such was Buster's dominance on the domestic scene that he started running out of decent opponents and this scenario contributed to the talented boxer becoming too complacent.

"There was no more fun in training - knowing that you are the best around and the next fight will just be a mere formality.

"I really think that attitude cost me dearly in the final analysis."

True to his word, Buster was thoroughly beaten by a young unknown boxer one Tjimbongoro Kambauruma, who has since gone to meet his maker - the beginning of a downward spiral. He then lost to the uncanny Noag Tjombonde in front of an enthusiastic crowd at Okahandja - a defeat that signalled the end of a flourishing boxing career.

Though he has not been able to attend boxing bouts in recent times - Buster has been following the progress of Namibian boxers with an eagle eye and says he has been fascinated by the prowess of local boxers but was quick to single out Harry "the Terminator" Simon.

"That boy was in a different class. He is brave and the more you hit him the more you invite trouble because he will charge at you with the ferocity of a wounded tiger. He possessed an unbelievable talent of studying his opponent before pouncing on him and he knew exactly where to direct his punches."

Buster praises Nestor Tobias for his unwavering support in promoting local boxers and turning them into professionals.

"If Joe Archer had good handlers like Nestor he could have gone very far but he was alone in the hands of greedy promoters in Johannesburg. These guys were only interested in lining their pockets instead of grooming the boy gradually before they pitted him against more experienced opponents."

He says Harry was in the same mould as Joe Archer and it is just that he was lucky enough to find a good handler in the person of Brian Mitchel, who steered him to a world crown without rushing him into big fights before he was ready for the big stage.

"My best fights were the three bouts against Joe Nixon Shikwambi, which I eventually won convincingly, but what a good boxer he was.

"George Mukuahima was a hard nut to crack and gave me sleepless nights ahead of our countless encounters."

But why should somebody who has given so much to boxing suddenly find himself in the wilderness while the country is experiencing a shortage of trainers with pedigree.

"Myself and Erastus 'Uazuvirua' Hambira used to take the boys through the ropes in the gym but whenever our boxers are selected for an international tournament - one would find people who have very little to do with boxing travelling along as trainers and under all sorts of titles."

Buster pulled no punches and threw a couple of jabs at the wanderlust pair of Joe Kaperu and Ambrossius Kandjii, whom he accuses of having developed a habit of hijacking other peoples' success.