Julius Indongo

Julius Indongo
Statistics
Real name Julius Munyelele Indongo
Nickname(s) Blue Machine
Weight(s)
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Reach 181 cm (71 in)
Nationality Namibian
Born (1983-02-12) 12 February 1983
Windhoek, Namibia
Stance Southpaw
Boxing record
Total fights 24
Wins 22
Wins by KO 11
Losses 2

Julius Munyelele Indongo (born 12 February 1983) is a Namibian professional boxer. He is a former unified light-welterweight world champion, having held the WBA (Unified), IBF, and IBO titles between 2016 and 2017. As an amateur, Indongo represented Namibia at the 2008 Olympics, reaching the first round of the lightweight bracket.

Amateur career

Indongo first took up boxing at the age of 17. In 2002, he won the amateur Namibian National Championships and he appeared poised for success. However, Indongo was struck by tuberculosis, which interrupted his career for 2 years. After recovering, Indongo qualified to represent his country in the 2008 Olympics. Right before his first fight, Indongo broke his right hand. He decided to fight regardless but was easily outpointed by Anthony Little.[1]

Professional career

Early career

Indongo debuted professionally at the age of 25, on 25 July 2009, with a points decision (PTS) win over Pohamba Mandume. After winning his first six fights, he won his first regional title, the Namibian lightweight title, by defeating Samuel Kapapu, and retained it against Peter Malakia.

After improving to 14 consecutive wins, he won the WBO Africa light-welterweight title in October 2012 via victory over James Onyango. Indongo went on to make six successful defenses of that title between 2014 and 2016. Indongo was a late bloomer on the world stage, with his first world title fight taking place when he was 33. His trainer, Nestor Tobias, stated that he often needed to be more aggressive and "deliver the killer punch".[2]

Unified light-welterweight champion

In October 2016, undefeated IBF and IBO light-welterweight champion Eduard Troyanovsky (25-0, 22 KOs) stated he would make a voluntary defence on the Lebedev-Gassiev card in Russia on 3 December.[3] On 7 November, Indongo, who was ranked WBO #3, WBA #15 and IBF #10, was announced as his opponent, for the fight to take place in Moscow, in his first bout held outside of Namibia.[4] Despite being a favoured underdog, Indongo knocked out Troyanovsky after only forty seconds of the first round with a left hook, becoming Namibia's fourth world boxing champion. Troyanovsky was badly hurt from the shot and did not get up. Referee Mark Calo-Oy immediately halted the fight with Troyanovsky still down on the canvas. After some assistance, they eventually got Troyanovsky back to his feet and took him out of the ring.[5][6]

In late December, there were talks for a potential unification fight between Indongo and WBA champion Ricky Burns.[7][8] On 9 January, Burns' manager Tommy Morrison confirmed a deal was being put together for Burns to fight Indongo in a unification fight in April at The SSE Hydro in Glasgow.[9][10] On 11 January, Sky Sports confirmed a deal was reached for Burns and Indongo in a unification title bout on 15 April 2017. The WBA, IBF and IBO titles would be at stake.[11][12] This was Scotland's first ever unification fight.[13][14] Burns failed to become Scotland's first unified world champion when he lost a via a one-sided unanimous decision with wide scores of 120-108, 118-110 and 116-112. In the last two rounds, Burns hit the canvas three times, but these were ruled as a slip. Following the defeat, Burns praised Indongo, "He was so so awkward. He was a lot better than we thought he was going to be. He can hit as well." He also said that he wouldn't retire.[15][16]

Indongo vs. Crawford

On 1 July 2017, Top Rank announced that a light welterweight unification fight between Indongo and WBC, WBO, Ring magazine, and lineal champion Terence Crawford was agreed to take place on 19 August at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska live on ESPN in US and Sky Sports in the UK.[17][18][19] The projected unification of every major world title in boxing (WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, The Ring, and lineal) will determine the light welterweight division's first undisputed champion since Kostya Tszyu in 2004, and the first time all the aforementioned titles have been at stake in a single fight since Bernard Hopkins vs. Jermain Taylor in 2005. Both fighters paid over $100,000 US dollars in sanctioning fees.[20] Indongo vacated the IBO belt to avoid paying even more in sanctioning fees.[21] Crawford entered the fight as a heavy favourite to win.[22]

On fight night, Crawford blasted Indongo, knocking him down in the second round before finishing him with a vicious body shot in just three rounds.[23] The fight took place in front of a raucous home crowd for Crawford. Crawford landed 27 total punches to Indongo's 13 and 17 power punches to Indongo's 10. Following the fight, Indongo stated "When he hit me like that, my mind was gone" about Crawford's body shot.[24] According to CompuBox stats, Crawford landed 26 of his 75 punches thrown (35%), while Indongo landed 13 of 74 thrown (18%). Both boxers earned an undisclosed 7-figure purse.[25] Following the fight, Indongo stated "When he hit me like that, my mind was gone" about Crawford's body shot.[26] Crawford stated that he had yet to make a decision on the next step in his career but there was speculation about him moving up to the welterweight division[27] or defending his light welterweight titles against Mikey Garcia.[28] The card averaged 965,000 viewers on ESPN.[29]

Career from 2018

On 5 January 2018, Lou DiBella of DiBella Entertainment announced that he had signed Indongo on a long-term promotional contract.[30] A few hours later, Nestor Tobias, Indongo's manager and promoter from Namibia claimed that Indongo and DiBella had breached contract. Tobias stated that Indongo was under contract with his MTC Nestor Sunshine Boxing & Fitness Academy until 2020.[31]

The WBC super lightweight title became vacant after Terence Crawford decided to move up to welterweight. It was announced that number 1 ranked Amir Imam would fight number 3 ranked Jose Ramirez for the vacant title. WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman then announced that Viktor Postol, who was ranked number 4, would fight number 2 ranked Regis Prograis (20-0, 17 KOs) for the interim WBC title. The winner of both fights would then meet to become the full titleholder.[32] In January 2018, a deal was finally reached for the fight between Postol and Prograis to take place on 9 March at the Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Florida.[33] On 12 February, ESPN reported that Postol suffered a fractured thumb and forced to drop out of the bout. Indongo was announced as his replacement, with the bout still taking place on 9 March, however the venue was changed to Deadwood Mountain Grand, a casino and resort in Deadwood, South Dakota, with Showtime televising the bout live.[34] Prograis knocked Indongo down four times in the fight, dropping him once in round 1 and three more times in round 2 before referee Ian John Lewis stopped the fight at 2:54 of round 2. Indongo started the fight well before being hit with a hard jab that dropped him. Indongo was hurt with this shot. Indongo fought close to Prograis, which seemed to benefit Prograis. After the fight, Prograis told Showtime's Steve Farhood, “After the first round, I felt his punches. He couldn't punch. He couldn’t hurt me. I got a little reckless. But, I got the job done, so I can’t complain.” Prograis landed 46 of 94 punches thrown (49%) and Indongo connected on 32 of his 120 thown (27%).[35]

Professional boxing record

Professional record summary
24 fights 22 wins 2 losses
By knockout 11 2
By decision 11 0
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
24 Loss 22–2 United States Regis Prograis KO 2 (12), 2:54 9 Mar 2018 United States Mountain Grand, Deadwood, South Dakota, US For vacant WBC interim light-welterweight title
23 Loss 22–1 United States Terence Crawford KO 3 (12), 1:38 19 Aug 2017 United States Pinnacle Bank Arena, Lincoln, Nebraska, US Lost WBA (Unified) and IBF light-welterweight titles;
For WBC, WBO, The Ring, and lineal light-welterweight titles
22 Win 22–0 United Kingdom Ricky Burns UD 12 15 Apr 2017 United Kingdom The SSE Hydro, Glasgow, Scotland Retained IBF and IBO light-welterweight titles;
Won WBA (Unified) light-welterweight title
21 Win 21–0 Russia Eduard Troyanovsky KO 1 (12), 0:40 3 Dec 2016 Russia Megasport Arena, Moscow, Russia Won IBF and IBO light-welterweight titles
20 Win 20–0 Tanzania Fabian Lyimo TKO 1 (12) 6 Aug 2016 Namibia Country Club Resort, Windhoek, Namibia Retained WBO Africa light-welterweight title
19 Win 19–0 Tanzania Allan Kamote TKO 9 (12) 26 Mar 2016 Namibia Country Club Resort, Windhoek, Namibia Retained WBO Africa light-welterweight title
18 Win 18–0 South Africa Zolani Marali UD 12 3 Oct 2015 Namibia Country Club Resort, Windhoek, Namibia Retained WBO Africa light-welterweight title
17 Win 17–0 Tanzania Ibrahim Class UD 12 20 Mar 2015 Namibia Ramatex Factory, Windhoek, Namibia Retained WBO Africa light-welterweight title
16 Win 16–0 South Africa Kaizer Mabuza UD 12 6 Dec 2014 Namibia Country Club Resort, Windhoek, Namibia Retained WBO Africa light-welterweight title
15 Win 15–0 Zimbabwe Ishmael Takudzwa Kuchocha TKO 3 (12), 0:45 26 Jul 2014 Namibia Country Club Resort, Windhoek, Namibia Retained WBO Africa light-welterweight title
14 Win 14–0 Zambia Joel Mwewa KO 1 (12), 2:17 1 Mar 2014 Namibia Olufuko Centre, Outapi, Namibia
13 Win 13–0 Zambia Nelson Banda PTS 10 11 May 2013 Namibia Kuisebmond Community Hall, Walvis Bay, Namibia
12 Win 12–0 Zambia Abias Silipumbwe KO 1 (6), 1:25 20 Mar 2013 Namibia Country Club Resort, Windhoek, Namibia
11 Win 11–0 Kenya James Onyango TKO 2 (12), 0:29 12 Oct 2012 Namibia Country Club Resort, Windhoek, Namibia Won vacant WBO Africa light-welterweight title
10 Win 10–0 Zimbabwe Meshack Kondwani TKO 4 (8), 2:02 20 Mar 2012 Namibia Country Club Resort, Windhoek, Namibia
9 Win 9–0 Zimbabwe Silas Mandeya UD 6 5 Nov 2011 Namibia Country Club Resort, Windhoek, Namibia
8 Win 8–0 Namibia Peter Malakia TKO 10 (10) 11 Jun 2011 Namibia Country Club Resort, Windhoek, Namibia Retained Namibian lightweight title
7 Win 7–0 Namibia Samuel Kapapu UD 10 19 Mar 2011 Namibia Country Club Resort, Windhoek, Namibia Won vacant Namibian lightweight title
6 Win 6–0 Namibia Lawrence Moyo TKO 1 (4) 7 Aug 2010 Namibia Kuisebmond Community Hall, Walvis Bay, Namibia
5 Win 5–0 Namibia Samuel Kapapu UD 4 29 May 2010 Namibia Kalahari Sands Hotel, Windhoek, Namibia
4 Win 4–0 Namibia Festus Nghidinwa MD 4 20 Mar 2010 Namibia Country Club Resort, Windhoek, Namibia
3 Win 3–0 Namibia Daniel Hosea TKO 2 (4), 1:56 31 Oct 2009 Namibia Kuisebmond Community Hall, Walvis Bay, Namibia
2 Win 2–0 Namibia Pohamba Mandume UD 4 12 Sep 2009 Namibia Country Club Resort, Windhoek, Namibia
1 Win 1–0 Namibia Pohamba Mandume PTS 4 25 Jul 2009 Namibia Country Club Resort, Windhoek, Namibia Professional debut

References

  1. ↑ https://www.ringtv.com/514563-african-village-espn-julius-indongo-sets-sights-history/
  2. ↑ https://www.newera.com.na/2015/02/06/beware-blue-machine-ready-conquer-world/
  3. ↑ "Eduard Troyanovsky To Make Voluntary Defense in December". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 2018-02-13.
  4. ↑ "Eduard Troyanovsky vs. Julius Indongo on December 3". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 2018-02-13.
  5. ↑ Sukachev, Alexey (3 December 2016). "Julius Indongo Destroys Eduard Troyanovsky in One - Huge Upset". BoxingScene. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  6. ↑ "Julius Indongo stuns IBF champion Eduard Troyanovsky inside one minute - Boxing News". Boxing News. 2016-12-04. Retrieved 2018-02-13.
  7. ↑ "Burns vs. Indongo unification clash?". Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Ricky Burns vs. Julius Indongo in the works". December 27, 2016. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Ricky Burns could have unification fight with Julius Indongo in Glasgow, says Alex Morrison". Sky Sports. January 9, 2017. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  10. ↑ "Ricky Burns lands Hydro unification fight against Namibian". January 8, 2017. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Ricky Burns-Julius Indongo 140-pound unification bout is set". January 11, 2017. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
  12. ↑ "Ricky Burns, Julius Indongo in junior welterweight unification bout". ESPN. January 11, 2017. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Ricky Burns to face Julius Indongo in Glasgow live on Sky Sports". Sky Sports. January 11, 2017. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
  14. ↑ "Ricky Burns set for Scotland's first ever unification fight - The Ring". The Ring. 2017-03-13. Retrieved 2017-03-13.
  15. ↑ "Ricky Burns loses WBA super-lightweight belt to Julius Indongo in Glasgow". BBC Sport. 2017-04-15. Retrieved 2017-04-16.
  16. ↑ "Ricky Burns has no answers for Indongo". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2017-04-16.
  17. ↑ "Lomachenko-Marriaga on 8/5, Crawford-Indongo on 8/19 - ESPN - Boxing News". www.boxingscene.com. Retrieved 2017-07-02.
  18. ↑ "Terence Crawford's world title unification clash with Julius Indongo is live on Sky Sports". Sky Sports. Retrieved 2017-07-02.
  19. ↑ "Lomachenko, Crawford top live cards on ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2017-07-02.
  20. ↑ Idec, Keith (August 9, 2017). "Crawford, Indongo to Pay Over $100K Apiece in Sanctioning Fees". BoxingScene. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  21. ↑ Idec, Keith (August 9, 2017). "Crawford, Indongo to Pay Over $100K Apiece in Sanctioning Fees". BoxingScene. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  22. ↑ https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2017/8/16/16143744/terence-crawford-julius-indongo-favorite-boxing-odds-betting-analysis-espn
  23. ↑ https://sports.yahoo.com/terence-crawford-kos-julius-indongo-three-rounds-become-undisputed-champion-041722282.html
  24. ↑ http://www.boxingscene.com/indongo-terence-crawford-hit-me-it-hurt-bad--119660
  25. ↑ "Crawford unifies titles with third-round KO". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2017-08-22.
  26. ↑ "Indongo: When Terence Crawford Hit Me - It Hurt So Bad! - Boxing News". www.boxingscene.com. Retrieved 2017-08-21.
  27. ↑ http://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/20392472/terence-crawford-knocks-julius-indongo-unify-junior-welterweight-titles
  28. ↑ "Crawford vs Garcia: Who would win?". Bad Left Hook. Retrieved 2017-08-21.
  29. ↑ "Crawford-Indongo Telecast Averaged 965,000 Viewers on ESPN". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 2018-01-06.
  30. ↑ "Julius Indongo Inks Promotional Pact With Lou DiBella". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 2018-01-06.
  31. ↑ "Indongo's Promoter is Furious, Says Boxer is Still Under Contract". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 2018-01-07.
  32. ↑ "Prograis vs. Postol To Be Ordered, Winner Faces Ramirez or Imam - Boxing News". www.boxingscene.com. Retrieved 2017-11-15.
  33. ↑ "Regis Prograis, Viktor Postol set for junior welterweight bout on Showtime - The Ring". The Ring. 2018-01-17. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
  34. ↑ "Postol Suffers Injury, Indongo to Fight Prograis on March 9". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 2018-02-13.
  35. ↑ "Regis Prograis Destroys Julius Indongo in Two Rounds". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
  • Professional boxing record for Julius Indongo from BoxRec
  • Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill. "Julius Indongo". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC.
  • Julius Indongo profile at Yahoo! Sports at the Wayback Machine (archived 24 May 2011)
Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Martin Haikali		 Namibian lightweight champion
19 March 2011 – January 2012
Vacated		 Vacant
Title next held by
Samuel Kapapu
Vacant
Title last held by
Ebenezer Lantei Lamptey		 WBO Africa
light-welterweight champion
12 October 2012 – 3 December 2016
Vacated		 Vacant
Minor world boxing titles
Preceded by
Eduard Troyanovsky		 IBO light-welterweight champion
3 December 2016 – 7 August 2017
Stripped		 Vacant
Title next held by
Mohamed Mimoune
Major world boxing titles
Preceded by
Eduard Troyanovsky		 IBF light-welterweight champion
3 December 2016 – 19 August 2017		 Succeeded by
Terence Crawford
Preceded by
Ricky Burns
as champion		 WBA light-welterweight champion
Unified title
15 April 2017 – 19 August 2017		 Succeeded by
Terence Crawford
as Super champion
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