Corry Ihuhua
18 November 2008
"He is a fantastic boxer with a big heart. He never gave in and his punches had a lot of substance compared to his opponent." These were the words of Reverend Daniel Lekota, who is the Provincial Chaplain of the African National Congress (ANC) for Free State in South Africa in reference to Namibia's welterweight boxer Ali 'Silent Assassin' Nuumbembe.
Lekota said this to The Namibian Sport at the end of the World Boxing Federation (WBF) fight between Nuumbembe and former defending champion Bongani Mwelase at the ARWA Ride Hall in Parys, South Africa, on Friday.
"I think Ali is a very good boxer.
He has shown many people here that he can fight and that he can really fight well," said the reverend who was ringside during the fight.
Nuumbembe lost by technical knockout in the seventh round and after the fight bowed by showing his respects to each section of the crowd which in turn gave him a round of applause for giving his opponent one of his toughest fights ever.
Mwelase had 12 wins of which 11 were knockouts before the fight, mostly executed in the first and second rounds.
Palesa Mosiea of Robs Promotions, who was the manager for the event, simply said: "I was scared."
Asked why, Mosiea said she thought Nuumbembe would hand Mwelase his first defeat in 12 fights before they went into battle on the night.
"I thought this is the end of Bongani.
Ali fought with so much power and I can tell you he is a very good boxer.
He put up a great fight tonight (Friday)," she said.
WIN SOME, LOSE SOME
His countryman, fellow boxer Paulus 'Hitman' Moses, who also went all the way to support Nuumbembe, said it was unfortunate that he lost the fight after so much preparation.
"In boxing, you win some and you lose some.
That is what happened tonight (Friday).
But I am happy for him because he fought really well.
Mwelase was lucky and that is also part of boxing.
The best man won, but I think it was a very close fight," he said.
Moses, currently the WBA intercontinental lightweight champion, has never tasted defeat and has an impressive record of 23 wins with 17 knockouts.
Nuumbembe's trainer and Namibia's top boxing promoter, Nestor Tobias, said his boxer was doing pretty well in the opening round, but admitted that he neglected his defence which caused him the defeat in the seventh round.
"I also think the referee was supposed to give him an eight count as it was the first time that he was in real trouble during the fight.
But overall, he has done well," said Tobias.
Referee Darryl Ribbink, who stopped the fight, said he had to protect Nuumbembe and decided to call it off.
"I had no choice and I could see that he was in danger.
I had to call it off," he said.
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