4,000 rabid fans packed the Country Club Resort in Windhoek, Namibia to see hometown hero Paulus Moses retain his WBA lightweight title for the first time.

The local stylist had things generally go his way after challenger Takehero Shimada of Japan slipped to the canvas and injured a leg in the second round.

The 37 year old Shimada continued on however and used his long experience and guile to make a fight of it, luring the champion in to score with sharp counters and a quick right hand.

But Moses had too much skill and sheer quickness as the rounds went on and after 12 frames was awarded the unanimous decision, 119-109 (twice) and 118-110.

The Windhoek native retains the WBA belt on his maiden defense, improving to 25-0 (17), while former Japanese champ Shimada drops to 23-5-1 (16). More...

The biggest show to hit Namibia in years takes place tonight at the Country Club Resort in Windoek as WBA Lightweight Champ Paulus Moses makes the first defense of the belt he won in January.

The last two bouts of Moses, 24-0 (17), took place in Japan and the theme continues in his hometown tonight as the 31 year old "Hitman" faces Tokyo's Takehiro Shimada, 23-4-1 (16).

At 37, former Japanese lightweight titlist Shimada has had a long career but showed recently he still has the goods by lasting seven rounds with absolutely murderous punching Edwin Valero for the WBA super feather belt a year ago, following that up with a stoppage of Panama's Ameth Diaz in March.

Shimada could have difficulty coping with the younger and faster Moses however and will likely have to pull off a career best performance to unseat the 31 year old rival, who will enjoy a packed hometown venue.

Chief support for the bill is provided by a clash for the WBA Pan African welterweight title between the champ, local man Bethuel Ushona, 17-0 (6), and the very experienced South African, Welcome Ntshingila, 16-8-3 (5), who formerly held the belt.

The only genuine action this past weekend took place in Asia and we crack open the first results report of 2009 with a quick trip to the Pacifico in Yokahama, Japan where there were two world title fights on Saturday night.

Yusuke Kobori put his WBA Lightweight crown at risk for the first time since winning the belt with a third round stoppage of Jose Alfaro in May, but the Tokyo man wasn't ready for what challenger Paulus Moses brought to the table.

The 30 year old Namibian earned his stripes by winning the WBA Pan African and Intercontinental titles in 2006 but truly earned his "Hitman" nickname on Saturday by generally beating the champion to the punch over twelve tough rounds.

When the dust had settled, Moses took the WBA title by scores of 119-109 and 115-113 twice, keeping his perfect record intact to climb to 24-0 (17).

Former Japanese and OPBF Super Feather kingpin Kobori saw a 15 fight no loss streak go up in flames and the 27 year old sees his record drop to 23-3-1 (12).

In other action on the bill, another Tokyo resident fared better as Toshiaki Nishioka saw his status as WBC Interim Super Bantam Champ improve to the full WBC Champion with a dramatic 12th and final round stoppage of Mexico's Genaro Garcia. More...

Yesterday at Differ Ariake in Tokyo Japan, championship boxing headlined the card as Jose “Quiebra Jicara” Alfaro 20-4 (18) made the first defense of his WBA Lightweight Title against Japanese native Yusuke Kobori 23-2-1 (12). The title defense had the feel of a coming out party for the newly crowned champion who had just won the vacant belt in Germany this past December via split decision over Thailand’s Prawet Singwancha.

Alfaro who was making only his third appearance outside of his native Nicaragua and his second outside of South America felt confident defending his WBA strap on the road leading up to this fight. After all, the 24 year-old had won the belt in Germany five months earlier and had beaten tough veteran DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley just a year earlier giving him little reason not to be confident.

Kobori the reigning Japanese Super Featherweight Champion who was on a 14 bout win streak and had never stepped inside a professional ring away from home in his 25 fight career had different plans for the Nicaraguan titlist.

As the fight began champion Jose Alfaro seemed to have things under control with a fairly good first round. In round two all seemed over but the celebrating when Alfaro dropped Kobori to the canvas for an eight count, the challenger, down but not out made it back to his feet and survived ready to fight on.

During round three the tables turned suddenly when Kobori landed a brutal left hook sending Alfaro back to the ropes stunned and defenseless. The referee soon stepped in, wisely saving the champion from any further punishment at 2:08 of round three. More...

Promoter Don King has come to the rescue of boxing fans around the world that would have missed out on an opportunity to see Monday’s World Boxing Association lightweight championship by making it available for free at DonKingTV.com. More...