Windhoek, Namibia plays host to a WBA “interim” world title fight this Saturday, June 11th as Paulus Ambunda (24-1) takes on undefeated Moises Flores (24-0). Two fights from this card are getting attention at the sport books and they feature some of the closest lines out there for this weekend’s boxing match-ups. Flores won the interim belt in April of last year, when he took a split decision win over Oscar Escandon on the undercard of Julio Cesar Chavez vs Andrjez Fonfara. Flores is 29 years old and after starting his career off in Mexico, he kept his run of success going with four wins in a row in the USA, including the title win and a subsequent defense. He enters the fight a -170 favorite over Ambunda, despite what are sure to be trying conditions fighting in Africa. Perhaps that is why Ambunda is paying back only at +140 from the underdog position. His lone loss came in a fight in the Philippines against Japan’s all-world Tomoki Kameda, and he extended the undefeated phenom the full twelve rounds. Ambunda is undefeated when fighting at home, and he brings the minor IBO world title at super bantamweight to the table. The second fight on the card getting a line at the books sees veteran Paulus Moses (36-3) taking on Thompson Mokwana (21-10-1). Moses is best remembered for his March of 2012 bid to win the WBO world lightweight title form Ricky Burns in the UK, and he has gone a fine 8-1 in fights since that setback. He has good international experience as he has won fights in the Ukraine and in Japan during his career. One of those wins, over Yusuke Kobori in January of 2009 won him the WBA world lightwight belt, and he succesfully defended that belt in Tokyo against Takehiro Shimada before losing it to Miguel Acosta. At 38 years old however, Moses is getting a little long in the tooth. He will be a favorite heading into the fight, paying back at -510 while Mokwana, the veteran from South Africa is paying back at +370. Boxing in Namibia falls under the British system, as they are part of the Commonwealth Boxing Council. In Ambunda and Moses, you are talking about the top two draws in Namibian boxing as this time, as the rugged local scene periodically produces a standout. Moses is a former world champion and Ambunda is hoping to get there.
