Namibia boxing sensation Jeremiah Nakathila is feeling the love from his compatriots following his impressive victory over former world champ Miguel Berchelt last month in Las Vegas.
Nakathila, 32, 23-2 (19 KOs) dominated Berchelt on his way to a sixth-round stoppage win as a stunned crowd watched at Resorts World and a live audience on American sports network ESPN.
The hard-hitting boxer who moonlights as a warrant officer with the Namibian Police is back home yet eager to show that he has much more to give. Check out this BoxingAfrica.com exclusive as Nakathila talks to our John Nene about the fight and what might be next!
BA: Congratulations on your victory over Miguel Berchelt. Tell us how do you feel about this accomplishment?
JN: I feel great. I’m proud of myself. I’m proud of my team for that big win at that level, and this victory just motivates me. It’s also to show the world the type of fighter I am. I can do it.
BA: Heading into the fight, what was your game plan?
JN: Me and my team before the fight we watched Miguel’s fights and we looked at his weakness, we looked at his strengths. We looked at my style as well and made adjustments on I fight.
For me, I don’t really do gameplans. I only watch videos and see what they do well. So that’s only what I look at. And then I come up with a gameplan when I’m already in the ring. That’s when I look at the style of my opponent. When I know the style, I become careful of his favorite punches.
BA: Did you feel you would need to knock him out?
JN: Yes. I’m blessed with power so when I started landing powerful shots on him, I knew it’s not going to be a long night. One way or another, I knew I’m going to knock him out, especially starting from round three going I could see already I’m going to knock him out.
BA: Were you worried about his reputation as an experienced KO puncher?
JN: No, I was not worried about it because I looked at the type of boxers he had knocked out. I could already see I’m not in the same level with those he stopped. Those were just weak opponents he stopped or knocked out. I was not scared of his knockout power. I was just like this is nothing.
BA: Walk us through the fight. You scored a knockdown in the third round of the fight. Were you surprised by that?
JN: When I dropped him, I was kind of surprised but when I jabbed him I felt the jab hit the target. It was straight on the chin. That’s where I aim, and my eyes were open.
BA: When did you realize he couldn’t handle your punches?
JN: I realized he couldn’t handle my power in round three. From round three I could see he could feel me. The body language said it all; how he run away and things so I could see he was feeling my power.
BA: In round six, you landed a number of big punches including a powerful right that sent his mouthpiece flying. Did you feel that the end was near for him?
JN: Yeah, in that round six I was coming for a kill. I was going to stop him or knock him out badly. Luckily the referee stopped the fight. I could see that right hurt him because he had lost power. He was exhausted from my punching power. I was planning to be closer to him and hit him very hard.
BA: Were you surprised when the referee stopped the fight?
JN: No, I was not surprised because I could see he was hurt. Everyone could see that. For his health this was the best option. You could even see his concentration was on the mouthpiece when he was supposed to focus on the fight. I could have him hit him badly during that particular moment.
BA: What factors contributed to this win, in your opinion?
JN: It’s just my preparation. I prepare hard for the fight. I was ready mentally and physically. I had tough sparring with different opponents.
BA: That was a big win for you especially since you lost to Shakur Stevenson the last time you fought in the US. What did you learn from that loss?
JN: From the Shakur loss I learnt something new so since I learned from it I didn’t really feel I lost the fight. Now I know what it takes.
BA: How do you rate Shakur Stevenson?
JN: He’s a good boxer, a talented young man. Overall, he’s great.
BA: You are now a big player at lightweight. Who are the names you are targeting in that division?
JN: My dream is to become the world champion. I know all the belts are with David Haney and George Kambosos Jr. I’m looking for a world title or an eliminator. I’m ready to fight any of the top boxers in the lightweight division. I’m not scared of them.
BA: Would you like to take a bout in Namibia or fight in the US again?
JN: For me I can fight anywhere. I’m comfortable at home or away. So, I would have no problem fighting in the US. That’s where big fights happen. I’m not selective about location. When I’m a world champion then I can say I want to fight at home.
BA: What has the management told you will be your next move?
JN: My promoter Nestor Tobias always has a plan for me. He’s the one who knows better. I leave that to him. I have a lot of respect for him. \Without him I would not be where I am now. He’s the best promoter in Africa. He’s not just a promoter but a close friend so I have confidence in him has good plans for me. Nestor is the father of boxing in Namibia. He has produced four world champions.
BA: How have you celebrated the victory?
JN: Yes, we had a big party on Saturday (April 2) at Low Key Pub with my friends in Namibia. It was such a great day. I enjoyed everything from the meat and good music at my pub.
BA: What does this win mean for you?
JN: It’s a major win for me because it will now open up opportunities for bigger fights. And I’m grateful to my promoter for organizing the fight for me.
BA: What does this win mean for Africa boxing?
JN: This is a big win for Africa. It shows we can win anywhere in the world in that dominant fashion. It has inspired many pro boxers in Africa and my home in Namibia. Right now, my aim is to become the fifth Namibian boxer to win a world title.
