Erasmus Shalihaxwe
Boxer Mateus Heita says he is ready to become the fifth Namibian boxer to win a world title.
The 27-year-old is set to face American Bruce Carrington this Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York for the WBC interim world featherweight title.
Heita has an undefeated professional record of 14 wins, including nine knockouts.
Speaking from the gym on Tuesday, Heita said he is not intimidated by his opponent.
“I will be the number five world champion in Namibia. I am not a contender… Come Saturday night, I will be the champion; I will bring the title home to Namibia. Like I said before, this guy has got nothing special… He is just a different object that I have to get, so I am ready to go,” said Heita.
He acknowledged that many Namibians have long hoped for another world boxing champion but said the journey to the top is not easy.
“You don’t just become a world champion in one night. I worked for it. I worked for this position that I am in. Nobody can come and fight on the level that I am fighting now. I worked very hard to be here. I am ready, and I can’t wait for Saturday night,” he said.
Carrington, 28, also holds an undefeated record with 15 wins, including nine knockouts.
If Heita wins, he will join the ranks of Namibian world boxing champions Harry Simon, Paulus Moses, Julius Indongo, and Paulus Ambunda.
