The highly anticipated exhibition fight between Harry 'Terminator' Simon and Paulus 'Ninja' Shimweetheleni concluded in a draw, sparking lively debate among fans and critics. The bout, held at the Mercure Hotel in Windhoek as part of the MTC Salute Boxing Bonanza, was aimed at raising awareness about crime prevention.
The event saw the two Namibian personalities square off in an unusual matchup, with Simon being a retired professional boxing champion and Shimweetheleni, a reformed ex-inmate, now a vocal advocate for crime prevention. The exhibition was as much about delivering a message as it was about boxing.
Fans React to the Draw
The result prompted mixed reactions from the boxing and sports community:
Fransie Tjangano emphasized the fight's purpose beyond sport:
"Boxing is part of arts and entertainment. The theme of this bout was about 'crime,' making it a community rehabilitation initiative for Ninja. He's expected to tour the country, teaching about crime-related issues affecting our nation. In the end, it was all about the game."
Paulus Kupembona critiqued the match harshly:
"What??? This is not boxing; this is chicken fight boxing. The way these two men were showing off before the match—Harry is old and can’t punch like before, and Ninja doesn’t know how to handle gloves. Maybe they’re too heavy for his hands!"
Fillemonshivute Kwedhi urged a broader perspective:
"Elders, we know who won and the reason for the fight. Only our grandchildren are complaining!"
Nghishii Kusht Shinyenga pointed out the fighters' contrasting backgrounds:
"For those who watched the game, we understand Harry Simon is a professional boxer, whereas Ninja is just an old man from prison who doesn’t know how to fight. But for the sake of stopping crime, they drew."
Other Highlights from the Bonanza
The event also featured a thrilling bout between Abed Shikongo and Harry Simon Jr. Shikongo retained his WBA Pan Africa title after the fight also ended in a draw.
Despite the controversy surrounding the Simon vs. Shimweetheleni exhibition, the event successfully brought attention to crime prevention and underscored the role of sports in fostering community engagement.