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Namibian boxing fans can expect
an explosive fight when Harry
Simon takes on Tony Dodson of
Great Britain for the vacant
World Boxing Federation (WBF)
lightheavyweight title in
Windhoek on September 30.
This was said by the president
of the WBF, Howard Goldberg, at
the official launch in Windhoek
on Friday morning, which was
also attended by the deputy
minister of Youth, National
Service, Sport and Culture,
Pohamba Shifeta, and the
president of the Namibia Boxing
Federation Kelly Nghixulifwa.
“It’s going to be a war and it
will be a tough fight for Harry
Simon. If the passion is there
he can do it, but Tony Dodson is
a former English and British
champion and will be a tough
opponent. He is very excited
about this fight and thinks that
he can win it,” Goldberg said.
“I’ve seen Tony Dodson fight and
he’s one helluva tough guy. He
is very competitive and at this
stage I’d say the fight is
50-50,” he added.
According to Goldberg, the title
was vacated by the former WBF
champion Dawid Kostecki and the
WBF decided that Simon and
Dodson would contest the vacant
title. “We looked at Harry
Simon’s credentials and we were
a bit worried about his
inactivity over the past few
years. But in 2010 he did have
two fights and he is still
unbeaten after 26 fights,” he
said. Dodson has a record of 33
fights, 27 wins and six defeats,
with 13 knockouts. His last
fight was on June 4, 2011 when
he beat Jamie Ambler on points.
According to Goldberg, the
boxers’ nicknames will add an
enticing flavour to the
showdown. “Tony Dodson goes by
the nickname “The Warrior” while
Harry Simon is “The Terminator”
so we can expect a tough
showdown when they meet,” he
said.
Simon said that he expected a
tough fight but was confident
that he would win. “I know it’s
going to be tough. Tony is a
very hard puncher and he is a
tough guy. But I know Tony will
go down, I’ll definitely knock
him out. I want to invite all
Namibians to come and enjoy the
fight,” he said. Simon said he
would train in South Africa for
the fight at the gym of former
South African superfeatherweight
world champion Cassius Baloyi.
Knowledge Lipinge of Harry Simon
Onkugo Promotion said that they
would definitely raise funds to
stage the fight although a venue
had not yet been finalised.
“We have sponsors on board and
are at an advanced stage of
negotiations. The fight will
definitely go ahead as planned.
We should finalise the venue
next week,” he said. Nghixulifwa
said that they had sanctioned
the fight, while Shifeta
congratulated Simon's camp for
organising the title fight. “I
would like to congratulate Harry
and his team for putting up this
fight. You must prepare well now
to win the fight, while we will
render our support where
necessary,” he said.
From
www.namibiasport.com.na
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