Anita Tjombe Terminates Alliance With Harry Simon

Shinovene Immanuel

8 June 2011

Local boxing promoter, Anita Tjombe yesterday confirmed that she had “mutually parted ways” with former two-time middleweight world champion Harry ‘Onkugo’ Simon, after working together for less than a year.

Tjombe, the only female promoter in the country, told The Namibian Sport on Tuesday that the duo decided to end their partnership because she would like to take on a different project and that includes establishing her own boxing promotion stable.

According to her, she could could not proceed with her own plans while she was still affiliated to the Onkugo Boxing Promotions since she was not its owner.

Simon could not be reached for comment.

The shock announcement comes a few days after Simon, who is still undefeated in 25 professional fights, took on five boxers in an exhibition bout at Walvis Bay over the weekend.

The event was aimed at preparing Simon for the fight slatted for this year against American Roy Jones Jnr.

“I will miss Harry because of the big opportunities that I was exposed to and he was a fun person to work with,” she said.

However, before she packs her bags and moves on, she still has unfinished business with her former associate, including her interests in Onkugo Boxing Promotions Trust as well as the envisaged big-money US fight for Simon.

“We will have to discuss on what will happen with the Trust, I can not say now as to what will happen to it,” she said.

Despite the split Tjombe said the much anticipated USA fight will go ahead as planned.

“The fight will definitely go on as planned because it is pre-approved already,” she added.

Rumours on the boxing corridor had it that the duo were in a romantic relationship, however Tjombe rubbished such claims saying she will sue anybody that makes such accusations.

“Definitely not and it never happened,” she responded.

According to a reliable source, Tjombe and Simon have had a stormy relationship, which was worsened by events leading up to and after the recent exhibition fight.

In addition, the source claims that money issues and Tjombe’s inexperience as a promoter capable of returning the former ‘Terminator’ to his previous lofty heights also fuelled their differences.

During her time as Simon’s promoter, Tjombe had tried to compete against the country’s most prominent boxing promoter Nestor Tobias, with little success.

Tjombe also confirmed that her new boxing promotion firm will be heading to Zambia for a scheduled event soon.

AllAfrica – All the Time