Mukungu dreams of defending crown at Rundu

Newly-crowned WBO Africa junior lightweight champion Martin Mukungu hopes to defend his title in front of his home supporters at Rundu after producing one of the biggest upsets in Namibian boxing history. Mukungu stunned the boxing fraternity on Saturday night when he knocked out previously unbeaten champion Flame Nangolo in the first round to capture the continental title in Windhoek. The new champion says the result did not come as a surprise to him and his team, who had prepared for the contest for months.

“We talked about it. We knew a knockout could come, but we didn’t go in looking for a knockout,” Mukungu says.

“We were planning to take him into deeper waters before we drowned him, but the opportunity came early.” He says he sensed trouble for Nangolo almost immediately after landing his jab. “The first jab I landed caught him already.