Only a small group of Filipino boxing fans are interested in knowing about the upcoming fight of former John Riel Casimero’s opponents Fillipus Nghitumbwa from Namibia, Africa versus Yukinori Oguni of Japan. The fight will take place on October 13 in Yokohama and it is an 8-round tussle for the International Super Bantamweight division.
This match is highly anticipated, with Nghitumbwa entering the ring with a solid record of 14 wins and 2 losses, while Oguni boasts 21 wins, 2 losses, and 3 draws. Both fighters are looking to showcase their skills on an international stage.
The locking of horns between Casimero and Oguni in the latter’s territory last October 2023 ended in a controversial draw while the former’s fight in Manila ended in UD in Casimero’s favor.
But this is not the first time a Japanese and a Namibian climbed the boxing ring and slugged it out. There have been notable boxing bouts between two nationals before the upcoming Oguni- Nghitumbwa brawl. One significant bout occurred in 2013 when Paulus Ambunda from Namibia fought Japan's Tomoki Kameda for the WBO Bantamweight title. Ambunda lost his title to Kameda in that match, which was held here in the Philippines.
The fight was crucial as it showcased both fighters on an international level, with Ambunda being a former world champion. Another noteworthy event was when Paulus Moses from Namibia won the WBA Lightweight title in Japan in 2009, marking a major victory for Namibian boxing on foreign soil.
Nestor Tobias, who serves as both promoter and trainer for the African, expressed his excitement about the opportunity for Nghitumbwa to showcase his talent. In an interview with New Era Boxing, he said, “This is an important fight, and if he wins, he’ll be in a better position to challenge for the world title, which has been our goal all along. I believe this is the perfect opportunity for us to correct the mistakes we made during our last trip there [in Asia].” Tobias is of course referring to the Casimero fight at Okada Hotel.
Nghitumbwa is coming to the game with a fresh UD win against DeKang Wang grabbing the WBO Africa Super Bantam strap while on the other hand, the latest boxer encountered by Oguni is Casimero two years ago.
The latest about Oguni is when he fetched and welcomed Casimero, a three-division world champion and a vlogger, at the Narita Airport coming to the latter’s much-expected and perhaps, career-defining fight against Saul Sanchez of United States on that same date and venue. Both Casimero and Sanchez are eager to fight Naoya Inoue the soonest.
Oguni steps into the ring with a record of 21 wins, 2 losses, and 3 draws, with 8 of those wins coming by knockout. His opponent, Nghitumbwa, has a record of 14 wins, 2 losses, and no draws, with an impressive 12 of those wins by knockout.
Nghitumbwa's power stands out, boasting a knockout percentage of 86%, significantly higher than Oguni’s 38%, highlighting a clear power advantage in this matchup.
At 36 years old, Oguni is the elder by 8 years and also has a 3-inch height advantage over the younger Nghitumbwa. Both fighters share an orthodox stance.
Oguni is the more experienced professional, with 10 more fights under his belt. He made his professional debut in 2009, nearly 8 years earlier than Nghitumbwa, who began his career in 2017. Oguni has also fought 119 more professional rounds—191 compared to Nghitumbwa’s 72—indicating a wealth of experience in the ring.
In terms of rankings, Nghitumbwa is currently positioned as the WBO’s number 9 contender in the 122-pound division and I see a grueling fight between the two former Casimero rivals.
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Reference: https://neweralive.na/nghitumbwa-seeks-redemption-in-japan-as-he-gears-up-for-oguni
Photos: Ring Magazine and Afloimages
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