‘Smokey’ Plans to Whip Tinashe

Sheefeni Nikodemus

29 June 2011

WBA Pan-African flyweight title holder Joseph ‘Smokey Joe’ Hilongwa plans to “whip” challenger Tinashe Mwadziwana next month and use the fight as bait for a shot at a world title.

A confident ‘Smokey’ said yesterday that he was already looking beyond his Zimbabwean opponent for a bigger challenge. The Namibian will be making his second title defence on July 30 at the Sport Klub Windhoek Hall in Olympia.

Hilongwa retained his title after beating Emmanuel Simbeye of Zambia with a ninth-round TKO on June 4 in Walvis Bay and now intends to build his reputation.

“It does not make sense for me to lose my Africa title,” Hilongwa told reporters at a media briefing. “I’m aiming for a world championship. So I have to win.”

Mwadziwana will hope his luck improves on Namibian soil, having lost on points to Hilongwa in 2008 and Immanuel Naidjala earlier this month.

“This time Tinashe is gonna come back to get whipped good,” Hilongwa said. “We are supposed to fight 12 rounds but he won’t make the 12 rounds.

However, the Zimbabwean said he too was not taking the challenge lightly.

“I need this title,” said Mwadziwana, who was in the country to tie up the fight’s details. “I know ‘Smokey’ is an undefeated champion. I can promise the Namibian nation that I will make it hard for ‘Smokey’.”

Both fighters said were still some way off their best shape, but they intend to reach peak condition in time for the fight.

UNDERCARDS

On the same card, heavyweight novices Simasiku ‘Tiger’ Matengu and Toivo Kamati will square-off over four rounds. Matengu said he was ready to become the top heavyweight in the country.

“Just come and I will give you a good show,” he said.

The evening’s other highlights see David Iita fight Katunga Anyway of Zimbabwe in a flyweight for rounder; lightweight Christiano Ukelo will face compatriot Sam Kambonde over four rounds; Lazarus Namalambo and Johannes Gabriel will contest a four-round featherweight bout; and Tommy Nakashimba battles Trymore Musira from Zimbabwe.

Also on the card are fights for welterweight boxers Tommy Hango and Lukas Ndafoluma, whose opponents are still to be determined.

According to fight promoter Kinda Nangolo, the price of the tickets to the fight will be announced next week.

AllAfrica – All the Time