Chronicle EditorInnocent Kurira, [email protected]
A two-year-long rivalry between Zimbabwe’s Elvis “Bomber” Moyo and former EFC champion, Matunga Djikasa, from the DRC will culminate in a brutal bare-knuckle (umbhaka) showdown. What began as a heated verbal exchange will now be settled in the ring.
The highly anticipated fight is scheduled for October 10 at the Sun Arena Time Square Casino Menlyn in Pretoria, South Africa.
Bare-knuckle boxing is a vicious, bloodthirsty sport without gloves or headgear. Fighters often suffer serious facial injuries, including broken noses, lost teeth, and gruesome cuts. The sport, as it is known today, originated in 17th-century England and simply differs from street fighting because it has an accepted set of rules.
In 2022, Moyo threatened to send Djikasa to hospital, and he still stands by his word ahead of the fight between the two.
“It’s all about me smashing him. I want to win, but for this one, it’s all about hurting him,” said Moyo, who has not fought in five years.
“My years without participating in a professional fight don’t matter because this is a street fight. It doesn’t matter I have been out for five years; these are fights which last from four seconds to 10 minutes — a clear indication it’s a street fight. It’s all about punching and hurting each other. I am stubborn, and I know I am not going down,” said Moyo.
“We have not spoken to each other. We are both keeping it calm, even at press conferences that we have had. All I have said to him is good luck. A bare-knuckle fight gives us both a fair chance. I am a warrior and have been fighting all my life. I am a gladiator.
“To me, fighting is a game. Fighting is the most important thing in my life. No matter how much you push my buttons when I am fighting, I don’t become reckless. I am very composed, even though I will be having bad intentions,” said Moyo.
The rift between the two started when Djikasa taunted Moyo after defeating his training partner Vandam Mbuyi in 2022. At the time of their fallout, Moyo was Mbuyi’s training partner as well as coach for the title fight that took place in Johannesburg.
After the bout, a video emerged of Djikasa charging at Mbuyi’s corner, where he started taunting Moyo through the cage.
Djikasa was seen punching the Hexagon fence that separated him and Moyo before the latter attempted to scale the cage to confront Djikasa.
Mbuyi recovered from the knock delivered by the then EFC heavyweight champion to defend his corner before security stepped in to separate the fighters. – @innocentskizoe
Online Reporter