The giant heavyweight hope

Jesse Jackson KauraisaNamibia is a country that has been crying out for a heavyweight boxer, because most of their efforts to have such boxers have been in vain for many years.However, Stef Botha has just restored the hopes of many boxing promoters in Namibia after quitting rugby to become a boxer.At the age of 25, Botha looks like a giant and fits the description of the likes of former heavyweights Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazer.Some might say he started boxing way too late, but Botha believes that he is capable of making a rapid route to fame.Botha made his amateur debut just about a month ago and had a clean sweep in his first boxing competition.As a former Rugby player, pain is something that the giant can withstand, making him such a good catch for a heavyweight. Boxing promoters can only hope that the giant boxer can turn professional as soon as possible.During an interview, Stephen Botha took the Sport Wrap on his journey towards choosing boxing as a career. Botha was born on 4 December in 1991 at the then South African controlled Walvis Bay which was later given back to Namibia in 1994. He attended most of his early school years at the coastal town where he enjoyed playing rugby.As a young boy, it never crossed his mind that he would one day be trading leather with boxers in the ring.A talented sportsman, he could play as a number seven or eight man on the rugby field. Botha went on to complete his education at Morrison High School before moving to South Africa where he played for several clubs.His breakthrough in rugby came in 2012 after joining Hamiltons Rugby team where he played until 2014.The boxer also had a call-up for the national 2013 Currie Cup team, but did not make the squad. He also played for some clubs in Namibia. “The injuries in rugby and the fact that I did not have time made me quit.“I loved and played rugby since I was a boy, but it was just time I had to venture my talent in something else,” Botha said. The fact that Botha has been working at TSU Protection Services as a freelance technical operator made him consider boxing.Last month, Botha was asked to join a boxing competition which took place in Windhoek.“It was time I decided to venture my skills in the sport and so I decided to fight in this boxing competition.“Making my debut, I thought they were putting me up against an upcoming boxer, but I realised that I was facing the national champion.“I was a bit rusty in the first rounds, but I finally managed to get myself together after he punched me and I knocked him down a couple of times.”Botha's inspiration to box comes from the videos of late legendary boxers Rocky Marciano and Tommy Morrison.He has also been inspired by his fitness coach and mentor whom he deemed special PD Stoman from Crossfit PLUS264 and his boxing coach Riaan Coetzee. “It is hard to say that I will take my boxing career to another level because there are no sponsors at the moment. “The other challenge I face is that I have a day to day job and also a family to look after.“These are some of the few things that are holding me back at the moment.”The other difficulty Botha is facing is, there are very few people in Namibia who can fight in his weight division. He however assured the Sport Wrap that he could enhance his boxing career if the sponsors came on board. His camp is trying to negotiate with some South Africans and fighters from Botswana in order for him to secure fights.

The giant heavyweight hope

Kommentaar

Republikein 2025-05-07

Meld asseblief aan om kommentaar te lewer

The giant heavyweight hope

Kommentaar

Republikein 2025-05-07

Meld asseblief aan om kommentaar te lewer

MELD AAN

Advertensie