By Tamas Pradarics
WBA/IBF/IBO unified champion Julius Indongo (22-0, 11 KO’s) is preparing for the biggest challenge of his boxing career. After dispatching previously unbeaten Eduard Troyanovsky in Russia and outclassing three-division champion Ricky Burns in Scotland, the Namibian pugilist is now planning to travel to the United States to face WBC/WBO/Lineal champion Terence Crawford (31-0, 22 KO’s).
The all-belt super lightweight unification bout is scheduled to take place on August 19 at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska, near Crawford’s hometown of Omaha. The event is going to be televised live by ESPN in the USA as part of a lucrative deal between the network and Crawford’s promoter, Top Rank Boxing.
The Namibian team is working with English premier boxing promoter Eddie Hearn for this fight and is very happy and excited to be a part of such a historical undisputed unification fight. Nestor Tobias, the trainer, manager and promoter of Indongo was more than willing to talk about how the fight has been made between his fighter and Crawford.
”You know boxing is a unique sport, and it is the dream of every fighter and promoter to be involved in a big fight, and this was no different when it comes to this undisputed championship bout. It can be so difficult to get it done but if both parties are willing to do it, it becomes easy and, in this case, all parties wanted to do it. I have to thank our partner of Matchroom, Eddie Hearn for his hard work and love of the sport. We also have to thank Top Rank and Terence Crawford for being so generous to accept this fight,” said Tobias to BoxingScene.com.
The Namibian businessman has given two world champions to his country before Indongo came into the picture but neither Paulus Moses or Paulus Ambunda were able to reach this height to hold two titles simultaneously, let alone a major all-belt unification bout against a P4P top5 opponent. The significance of this matchup is inevitable to even Tobias himself.
”Not to undermine other events we have achieved before and other world champions we have developed before, but looking at things on how boxing has been developing in Namibia and the work we have been putting in, I think I can say that this is the biggest achievement of my career and for sure it is not to undermine the former world champions who laid the foundation for us. We have to appreciate all of them.”
Indongo has welcomed the news after the fight has been signed by Crawford and Top Rank. The 34-year-old pugilist is calm and positive and feels more than ready to take the challenge.
”Since I started boxing I always believed in my management and my job was always to go to the gym and prepare for my next fight. So when the announcement was made that Crawford agreed to fight me I was in the gym training for my next opponent and it was great news for me and I know it is a big challenge but I believe in my own boxing skills and I believe I will do what I did in Russia and Scotland and on my previous 22 fights as a pro. I want the world to listen carefully to the ring announcer when he will say: ’From the land of the brave Namibia, Julius ’Blue Machine’ Indongo is still undefeated and he is the new undisputed champion of the world’,” said Julius.
The confident Indongo has also discussed how he can envision the fight would play out.
”It is very difficult to say how the fight will play out but I believe in myself and my team and for every fight, we got a plan and there is no difference with this one. We are very motivated and disciplined, worked very hard and we are ready to go. We are ready to fight and win all twelve rounds, that is what we wish to do and we will make sure every punch I throw is effective. And if he can not take my punches it will be a knockout and that will be a bonus.”
