Ndafoluma retains WBO African title in Port Elizabeth

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Lukas Ndafoluma successfully defended his World Boxing Organisation (WBO) Africa middleweight title on Sunday when he beat Cristiano Ndombassy of Angola in his first defence in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

The Namibian middleweight champion won the title for the first time in February 2021 when he beat Simion Tchetha of Malawi.

In his first defence the Namibian boxer had to give it his all over 12 rounds of boxing as his opponent Ndombassy came to the fight well prepared.

Ndafoluma started the fight on an attack cutting, open his opponent’s left eye in the third round, but the doctors declared Ndombassy fit to continue with the fight despite his eye becoming swollen.

The injury did not stop the Angolan boxer from increasing the tempo of the fight as the two boxers exchanged leather round in, round out.

Ndombassy’s hard efforts of trying to knock out the Namibian defending champion did not pay off as Ndafoluma controlled the fight well, setting the pace to the tempo that suited him on the day to retain his title.

The three judges scored the fight 114-113, 115-112 and 114-113 in favour of Ndafoluma.

In an interview that was streamed live after the fight, Ndafoluma said his opponent made him work hard.

“It wasn’t an easy fight but I have to thank God for the courage given to me to be successful in this fight. I will also have to thank my sponsor and promoter for organising this fight as it is currently not easy to get a fight in the midst of the pandemic,” he said.

The Namibian WBO Africa middleweight champion added that Ndombassy is “a warrior and a hell of a fighter.”

“I did not expect Ndombassy to be this tough, he is a warrior who moved a rank up from the super welterweight to the middle weight to fight me. I am proud of his commitment and dedication as a boxer,” said Ndafoluma, who stated that his aim going forward is to fight for the world title.

Source: Namibia Press Agency