SNA: You were the IBO lightweight heavyweight world champion a few months ago, what about your belt?
Yves Ngabu: I lost my belt but I will still have the chance to win it back.
How did you lose this title?
I was sanctioned because I couldn’t defend the belt compulsorily in the allotted time. There are two possibilities in boxing, either you defend at home or you go outside. So when there are ways, we organize at home. The problem with a champion is when people no longer want to face you outside, you are condemned to organize defense fights at home and if you don’t do the defense, when it becomes mandatory, at your place, the International Federation is receiving pressure from other promoters and organizers for your belt to be declared vacant, that’s what happened.
Do you think you are in shape to go to the reconquest of this belt?
Yes, I just have to become active again because now I haven’t been active for a while. But with the project that is presented here in Congo, I will soon be able to become active again and be included in the ranking; then I will have the chance to quickly regain this title.
Being active is having fights?
Absolutely. Who says fights, says means. That’s why we need the country’s support.
Have you only been boxing throughout your entire career?
No, I started with football because my father was a former player of the DRC national team, a former Leopard then. In soccer, I was a striker. It wasn’t until I was 16 that I started boxing.
During all this time when you were in Belgium, did you therefore represent Belgium?
Yes, I was champion of Flanders, then champion of Belgium and I even was champion of Europe.
Why did you choose the DRC Today
I am Congolese through my two parents and I have always wanted to give this glory to the DRC which is a country of boxing with notably the fight between Ali and Foreman that took place here. So it is the love of my country that led me to take Congolese sports nationality.
Is there already a project that can lead you to a new title?
Yes, we already have a project with my team. We will need the support of the Congolese government to do this.
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À propos de l'auteur
Philemon MBALE
Rédacteur sportif
Passionné de sport depuis toujours, partage avec vous les dernières actualités et analyses du monde sportif.