Getting to know...Ali Nuumbembe by James Howard Aug 7th 2007

There are times when you can't help but to be pleased to see a man working hard and achieving his goals. Hailing from Oshakati, Namibia and fighting out of Glossop in the North West of England, nice guy Ali Nuumbembe has been quietly focusing on his title dreams. Beating tough Scot Kevin Anderson by way of a split decision, Ali became the first Namibian ever to win the Commonwealth title, a feat which he is tremendously proud of, describing it as “a dream come true”. A successful amateur career, developed in war torn Namibia under South African rule, included eight national championship gold medals for Nuumbembe. In 2002, ‘The Silent Assassin' travelled to Manchester to represent Namibia in the Commonwealth Games, only for the team to misplace their kit before the event began. Boxing fan Chad Parker stepped in to provide kit, and a relationship that would see Nuumbembe rise to Commonwealth champion was born, not before Nuumbembe claimed the Commonwealth bronze medal. Chad's next beneficial assistance would be to help Ali relocate to the UK, specifically to a luxury caravan at the back of Parker's pub The Beehive, and get his professional boxing career off the ground. It's fair to say that Chad became something of an adopted father to the proud African. Ali, whose real name is Paulus Nuumbembe, describes his relationship with another man who helps him, his coach Bob Shannon, as being “great,” adding “Bob is a good trainer and a good man. He pushes me really hard, which I like”. An average morning will see Ali out running or doing a fitness session in ‘Bodycheck' before returning home for dinner, the evening involves “getting the train to Manchester to go to Shannon's Gym”. This evening trip to the gym is the hardest part of training for Ali as he explains, “Getting to the gym that is the hard part for me, I have to walk and travel on the train quite a bit. It's nearly a two hour journey each way, but its well worth it. “I don't normally get home until eightish then I will watch a movie and go to bed." The Namibian trains Monday to Friday, with Saturday reserved for rest and Sunday for hill running. Nuumbembe, a keen basketball and football fan, identifies “being able to chase and fulfil a dream” as the best part of his job, and picks “not being able to get fights, due to the politics and fights being cancelled” as the worst. There have been obstacles in the career of the man now a cult hero in Glossop, including a draw after stepping in at late notice against hotly tipped David Barnes for the WBO Intercontinental title; Ali felt he had done enough to win. Another challenge was to come back from the knockout defeat suffered at the hands of the much avoided Ajose Olusegun (Nuumbembe lost by KO in the sixth). Speaking of that night in June 2006, the ‘Silent Assassin' says “I was not right in the ring that night”. Ajose has since named Ali as his toughest opponent, a compliment which Ali returns saying “he was the toughest fighter I have faced, he's a good fighter”. Nuumbembe names his coach Bob Shannon as the toughest of all the men he faces, it is just as well Ali “likes training”. The situation had got to the point where his fight against Kevin Anderson became make or break for Ali's career. ”Yes I was scared; a loss would have meant my career was over and I would have to go back to Namibia without winning a title”. Despite, or perhaps because of this pressure, Ali was able to outpoint Anderson bringing a massive smile to his face as the results were read out. Speaking about winning the Commonwealth title, Ali commented “It was the happiest moment of my life” adding he “became Namibia's first ever Commonwealth champion”. Asking him if he felt confident before the fight, Ali replied, “I was confident, but I also knew Kevin was a tough fighter, I knew it would be a hard fight and it was”. I asked Ali who he thought the best British fighter was at the moment. “I think it's a case of tossing a coin between Ricky Hatton and Joe Calzaghe, but Ricky gets my nod. I have sparred with Ricky and he is very, very strong”. Referring to Hatton's potential December 8th match up, Ali says “I knew he was going to beat Kostya Tszyu and I think Mayweather might be in for a shock too." Would Hatton be Ali's ideal British opponent if a fight could be made? “It would obviously be Ricky Hatton as he is in my opinion the best fighter in the UK and all boxers want to fight the best, to test themselves”. If any fight in the world could be made, who would Ali select as an opponent? “Oscar De la Hoya, he is a living legend and I see he is moving back down to welterweight, so you never know, stranger things have happened." Back to the fights that are more likely to be made, what are the plans for the likeable Army Captain? “I am very pleased with becoming the Commonwealth champion, I would love to be able to defend it a few times and then I could dream of having a go at a world title. I am hoping to defend my title in September and a possible fight with Matthew Hatton may be on the cards”. Approaching the final furlong of the interview I ask the welterweight if there is anything he would like to add. As I am discovering is typical for the man, he uses the opportunity to thank those who have helped him on the way. “I would like to say thank you to the people who support me, Chad and Lisa. Also thanks to my manager Steve Wood and Bob Shannon and to everyone else in the UK who have made me feel welcome while I am here living the dream”.

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