Boxing News Boxing News
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).
On the undercard, welterweight Bethuel Ushona, 18-0 (6), stayed perfect with a WBA Pan African title defense against iron-chinned South African rival Welcome Ntshingila, 16-9-3 (15), via a 120-109 and 118-110 (twice) points verdict.
There were fireworks on the bill as well as WBO Africa lightweight ruler Jatoorora “The Sting” Tjingaveta, 12-2 (4), knocked out former Namibian bantamweight title challenger Paulus Petrus, 7-3 (2), in the seventh frame.
