Deon Potgieter boxing
Namibia’s biggest sporting export so far this new millennium, Harry “The Terminator” Simon, could be in for a rough time on Saturday night. Simon, the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) junior-middleweight world champion, makes the fourth defence of his title in Britain. He was to have faced Daniel Santos, the WBO welterweight world champion, but that bout was called off after Santos was informed he would be stripped of his title if he challenged Simon.
The fact that Santos wasn’t willing to take the chance in lieu of winning Simon’s title says a lot about his confidence of such a victory. Simon now faces what may be a far more dangerous opponent in Robert Allen. Allen, a former International Boxing Federation (IBF) interim middleweight champion, is a fierce puncher and has twice been in the ring with celebrated IBF middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins. Although the first bout ended in a no-contest and the second in Allen being stopped in the seventh round, it was against a man considered by many to be the best in the division. Allen, a former United States marine, has notched up 20 knockouts in 25 wins with just three defeats and one no-contest, as opposed to the undefeated Simon’s 16 knockouts in 20 wins. “I wouldn’t have taken the fight if I didn’t think I could win,” says a confident Allen. “I’ve watched his last few bouts on tape and I can’t see anything to be worried about. Simon is about to have his title torn away from him.” Simon will be featuring in his ninth bout in the United Kingdom and has built up quite a following there. The fight, which should be a royal punch-up, will be screened live on Showtime television.
There was talk of Simon being matched against the recently voted pound-for-pound best boxer in the world, Felix Trinidad, who is the current IBF junior-middlweight champion, but the money (in the form of Don King) is looking to get Trinidad involved in a middleweight unification tournament, theoretically ending with Trinidad against Hopkins. “I think Simon will also be looking to move up,” says former three-time world champion Dingaan Thobela. Thobela trained with Simon in preparation for his historic battle with Glen Catley late last year and said Simon packs plenty of power for his weight. “Simon is also taller than me so it would be natural for him to fill out and move up a division or two,” says Thobela.