Flame ‘Special One’ Nangolo defended his Junior Lightweight title via a controversial split decision against a tough as teak David ‘Opuwo Flash’ Shinuna at the NamPower Convention Centre on Saturday night.

Two judges scored the fight in favour of Nangolo while one gave the fight to Shinuna, a decision that did not sit well with those in attendance.

Nangolo fought a tactical fight landing points at will while avoiding punches from his opponent.

While Nangolo was using his skill and movement in the ring, Shinuna landed a few powerful punches that troubled his opponent.

After the fight, Shinuna said lack of sparring partners in his home town of Opuwo affected his fight.

“I think I need to move from my current trainer and go to a gym where I can get sparring partners. Flame was running around the ring and we could not really fight,” he said.

On his part, Nangolo said he could have finished the fight early, but his corner told him to box the whole 10 rounds.

“He was taking a lot of shots, I could have finished him early, but my friend ‘Mosquito’ had scored a second-round knockout so I had to give the fans a show. Once again I am calling out ‘Energy’ from Sunshine gym. Everybody knows that is the fight that needs to happen,” he said.

Meanwhile, in the supporting bouts, Alfeus Shaanika scored a second-round technical knockout (TKO) over Hedison ‘Bulelo’ Hipondokwa who suffered a fractured hand following a knockdown in the second round.

In another supporting bout, Hafeni Ngesheya also won against Shanyengange Shanyengange via a TKO in the third round and Jona Shikukuta overcame Robert Ndalelwa in the second round via a TKO.

Event organiser Immanuel Moses said they are hoping to stage more fights this year and they will try and get Shaanika to fight Emmanuel Mungandjela, the current Welterweight national champion.

“Those boxers who did not get a chance today, we will stage more fights and we will get fights for you. We have plans for all our fighters and they will fight good opponents,” he said.

Other results of the night are as follows:

Fillipus Amaawa beat Petrus Mathew on points

Ruaan Rispel beat Johannes David on points

Petrus Salomon beat Niconor Alweendo via a majority decision

Johnny Herman beat Jacob Jacob on points

Usko Rehabeam beat Dominicus Weyulu via a majority decision

Source: The Namibian Press Agency