Online Reporter
Langton Nyakwenda
Zimpapers Sports Hub
PREVIOUSLY renowned for its farming activities, Mvurwi also now boasts of a sporting star whose rise has left many in the Mashonaland Central town dreaming big.
A 19-year-old boxing star has emerged from the town, which is located 100 kilometres from Harare. Mike Moffat’s ascendancy to the national Featherweight crown is another timely reminder of the boxing talent that is awash in small centres.
Coming out of Roygri Boxing Promotions, Moffat defeated Zvenyika Arifonso Jr at a boxing tournament held in Mvurwi last weekend.
Arifonso Jr is the son of former Commonwealth boxing champion Zvenyika, who is popularly known as “Mosquito.”
Arifonso Jr’s defeat has provided another opportunity to examine why sons of boxing legends have failed to take over the mantles from their fathers.
The late Gilbert “Giro” Josamu, also from Mbare, has a son Hillary, who is yet to win a respected belt.
“It’s true, boxing is very popular and well supported in major cities like Harare and Bulawayo but the other reality is that we also have the talent here in Mvurwi,” bragged Royc Archibald of Roygri Boxing Promotions.
Archibald has sacrificed a lot for boxing development in Mvurwi.
He owns a modest gym and would sometimes borrow money to take amateur boxers to tournaments as far as Victoria Falls.
One of those is Moffat, who is now a national Featherweight champion.
“I owe him (Archibald) a lot,” said Moffat.
“One thing I want to try and do is for him to recover the money he has invested in my development.”
His next target is an international non-title fight against a yet-to-be named Malawian boxer on August 28.
His ultimate aim is to bring the World Boxing Council Featherweight belt to Zimbabwe.
No Zimbabwean has won a gold WBC belt before.Charles Manyuchi won the Silver belt, which is a rung lower than the prestigious gold belt.
Over the years, Zimbabwe has produced star boxers including the late Proud “Kilimanjaro” Chinembiri, Langton “Schoolboy” Tinago, Arifonso Zvenyika, Brendon “Boika” Denes and Aliyah Phiri. None of the above won a WBC world title.“But, we believe Zimbabwe can still do it because the talent is there in this country.
“Mvurwi boxing is developed more than what you think, and we are still moving,” said Archibald.
He added: “When people hear about Mvurwi they think of a remote area, but as Mvurwi we now have a national champion and it’s a development that has uplifted the province.
“We can see the results. Yes, we have the challenges especially shortage of resources but what we have is talent.
“Boxing is expensive and we also need support. Most people here are still to appreciate boxing but Roygri is moving.”
