Harry Simon
Born
Harry Simon

(1971-10-21) 21 October 1971 (age 52)
Walvis Bay, Namibia
NationalityNamibian
Other namesThe Terminator
Onkugo
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Reach70 in (178 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights31
Wins31
Wins by KO23
Medal record
All-Africa Games
Gold medal – first place 1991 Cairo Welterweight

Harry Simon (born 21 October 1971) is a Namibian former professional boxer. He is a two-weight world champion, having held the WBO junior middleweight title from 1998 to 2001, and the WBO middleweight title in 2002.

In 2002, Simon was involved in a serious car crash. He was found guilty of "culpable homicide" and sentenced to jail in 2007. Simon was released in 2009. He lost his world middleweight title owing to injuries sustained from the car accident, being stripped of the belt for failure to defend it.

In 2013 Simon won the vacant IBF International Light Heavyweight title against Geard Ajetović, and defended it against him again in 2014.

Amateur highlights

As an amateur Simon represented Namibia as a welterweight at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, and had an overall amateur record of 121–9. His result was:

Professional career

Simon turned pro in 1994 and won the WBO junior middleweight title in 1998 by defeating Winky Wright by controversial decision. The bout had initially been ruled a draw, but then a "scoring error" favoring Simon was discovered. He defended the title four times against Kevin Lueshing, Enrique Areco, Rodney Jones and Wayne Alexander. He later captured the WBO middleweight title against Sweden's Armand Krajnc in a unanimous 12-round decision. In 2002, Simon was involved in a serious car accident, sustaining injuries that prevented his defending his title; because of this he was stripped of the belt.[1]

Simon returned to boxing in March 2007, winning an eight round decision over Stephen Nzuemb, in Namibia. He won a fight against Tanzanian Rashid Mutumla by knockout on 2 December 2010. Following his release from jail in 2009, Simon launched a comeback, recording several wins over journeyman opposition.

On 24 November 2018 Simon fought together with his son, Harry Simon Jr. They both won their fights, making it a first in Namibia for father and son to appear together, and to both win.[2]

Outside the ring

Simon was involved in two serious car accidents resulting in fatalities. In the first accident in 2001, two people died outside Swakopmund in a hit-and-run accident. Simon's car's estimated speed was 230 kilometres per hour (140 mph). Some controversy developed around this accident, as blood samples disappeared, and originally Simon was reported to be driving. His driver later admitted to have steered the vehicle and was sentenced to 2 years in jail.[3]

The second accident, in late 2002, saw Simon seriously injured and eventually sent to jail.[4] Three Belgian tourists - two adults and a baby - died in the collision with Simon's Mercedes-Benz at Langstrand in November 2002. On 5 August 2005, Simon was given a two-year jail sentence, after he was found guilty of culpable homicide stemming from the November 2002 car accident, which resulted in the deaths of the three people.[5]

On 9 July 2007, Simon began serving his two-year prison sentence for culpable homicide after losing the appeal of his 2005 conviction. Simon did not call any witnesses or testify in his own behalf during the appeal proceedings, and his conviction and sentence were not overturned.[6] He was released in 2009. In 2020 he published a book, "Lifestyle and Treatments in Prison", detailing his experiences in jail.[7]

Professional boxing record

31 fights 31 wins 0 losses
By knockout 23 0
By decision 8 0
Draws 0
No contests 0
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
31 Win 31–0 Tanzania Kaminjah Ramadhan TKO 2 (8) Nov 24, 2018 Namibia Ramatex Factory, Windhoek, Namibia
30 Win 30–0 Tanzania Japhet Kaseba TKO 2 (8) Mar 26, 2016 Namibia Helao Nafidi Business Expo Hall, Helao Nafidi, Namibia
29 Win 29–0 Serbia Geard Ajetović UD 12 Sep 28, 2013 Namibia Ramatex Factory, Windhoek, Namibia Won vacant IBF International light heavyweight title
28 Win 28–0 Hungary Zoltan Kiss, Jr. TKO 2 (8) 2:33 Jun 29, 2013 Namibia Windhoek Country Club Resort, Windhoek, Namibia
27 Win 27–0 South Africa Ruben Groenewald TKO 1 (12) 1:23 Jun 23, 2012 Namibia SKW Hall, Windhoek, Namibia
26 Win 26–0 Tanzania Rashid Matumla KO 1 (10) 1:43 Dec 4, 2010 Namibia OK Parking Lot, Windhoek, Namibia
25 Win 25–0 Kenya Daniel Wanyonyi TKO 5 (6) Feb 20, 2010 Kenya Simmers Restaurant, Nairobi, Kenya
24 Win 24–0 Gabon Stephen Nzuemba UD 12 Mar 3, 2007 Namibia Sam Nujoma Stadium, Windhoek, Namibia
23 Win 23–0 Sweden Armand Krajnc UD 12 Apr 6, 2002 Denmark Circus Building, Copenhagen, Denmark Won WBO middleweight title
22 Win 22–0 France Hacine Cherifi UD 12 Jul 21, 2001 Puerto Rico Coliseo Rubén Rodríguez, Bayamón, Puerto Rico Won WBO interim middleweight title
21 Win 21–0 England Wayne Alexander TKO 5 (12) 2:43 Feb 10, 2001 England Kingsway Leisure Centre, Widnes, England Retained WBO junior middleweight title
20 Win 20–0 United States Rodney Jones MD 12 Sep 23, 2000 Canada Casino Rama, Rama, Ontario, Canada Retained WBO junior middleweight title
19 Win 19–0 Argentina Enrique Areco TKO 10 (12) Feb 19, 2000 England Goresbrook Leisure Centre, London, England Retained WBO junior middleweight title
18 Win 18–0 England Kevin Lueshing TKO 3 (12) 2:08 May 1, 1999 England Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, London, England Retained WBO junior middleweight title
17 Win 17–0 United States Winky Wright MD 12 Aug 22, 1998 South Africa Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, South Africa Won WBO junior middleweight title
16 Win 16–0 England Kasi Kaihau KO 4 (10) 1:12 Dec 22, 1997 England Ponds Forge, Sheffield, England
15 Win 15–0 England George Richards KO 5 (8) 2:37 Jul 19, 1997 England Wembley Arena, London, England
14 Win 14–0 Kenya Nick Odore KO 5 (6) 2:37 May 3, 1997 England NYNEX Arena, Manchester, England
13 Win 13–0 Uganda John Bosco KO 2 (8) 1:48 Feb 8, 1997 New London Arena, London, England
12 Win 12–0 United States Anthony Ivory PTS 6 Aug 31, 1996 Republic of Ireland Point Theatre, Dublin, Ireland
11 Win 11–0 England Del Bryan TKO 6 (10) Jul 6, 1996 England NYNEX Arena, Manchester, England
10 Win 10–0 England Paul Wesley RTD 4 (8) 3:00 Apr 13, 1996 EnglandWythenshawe Forum, Manchester, England
9 Win 9–0 Argentina José María Cabral KO 6 (10) Sep 23, 1995 South Africa Vista University Indoor Centre, Bloemfontein, South Africa
8 Win 8–0 United States Danny Chavez PTS 10 Jul 8, 1995 South Africa Wembley Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa
7 Win 7–0 South Africa Ernest Goliath TKO 1 (8) May 12, 1995 South Africa Berea Park Arena, Pretoria, South Africa
6 Win 6–0 South Africa Enuel Marshile TKO 5 (8) Mar 15, 1995 South Africa Morula Sun Casino, Mabopane, South Africa
5 Win 5–0 South Africa Paul Nhlumayo TKO 2 (6) Dec 21, 1994 South Africa DLI Hall, Durban, South Africa
4 Win 4–0 South Africa Thandekile Boyana TKO 4 Nov 20, 1994 South Africa Wembley Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa
3 Win 3–0 South Africa Petros Twala TKO 2 (4) Mar 26, 1994 South Africa Indoor Centre, Springs, South Africa
2 Win 2–0 South Africa Thabiso Dlamini KO 1 (4) Mar 5, 1994 South Africa Ringwise Boxing Academy, Johannesburg, South Africa
1 Win 1–0 South Africa Leon Van Rensburg TKO 1 (4) Jan 26, 1994 South Africa Indoor Centre, Springs, South Africa

References

  1. ^ Ihuhua, Corry (8 July 2003). "Velasco takes Harry's title". The Namibian. Archived from the original on 11 November 2021. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. ^ Kambaekwa, Carlos (27 November 2018). "Brilliant Harry silences his critics...hailed as the finest leather trade in Namibian history". New Era.
  3. ^ Menges, Werner (7 December 2004). "Boxer Simon's driver sent to prison over horror car crash". The Namibian.
  4. ^ Barnard, Maggi (8 February 2005). "Expert cites speed as key factor in Simon crash". The Namibian.
  5. ^ Robberts, Elma (5 August 2005). "Simon guilty Given jail sentence". The Namibian. p. 1. Archived from the original on 1 December 2006.
  6. ^ "Former Champ Harry Simon Jailed for 2 Years".
  7. ^ Hembapu, Otniel (30 March 2020). "Simon speaks life and struggles in prison…opens up in new book". New Era.

External links


World boxing titles Preceded byWinky Wright WBO junior middleweight champion 22 August 1998 – 27 November 2001Vacated VacantTitle next held byDaniel Santos VacantTitle last held byJason Matthews WBO middleweight championinterim title 21 July 2001 – 6 April 2002Unified Succeeded byHéctor Javier Velazco Preceded byArmand Krajnc WBO middleweight champion 6 April 2002 – 8 July 2003Stripped
All-Africa Boxing Champions in Men's Welterweight
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