adminThupeyo Muleya in BEITBRIDGE
THE boxer known as Bonyongo the Destroyer, the last man to fight Kilimanjaro, has died. He was 61. John Mutema, who was a businessman, suffered a stroke at his Dulibadzimu home here on Thursday morning.
The Destroyer quit boxing in 1999 after the death of the Man Mountain, Proud Chinembiri, saying there was no longer a heavyweight boxer to fight at the time.
He fought the former African champion at Ascot in Gweru in 1994 and was beaten on a technical knockout when he suffered a gash on the right eye.
Family spokesperson and elder sister, Hilda Mutema, said her brother suffered a stroke on Wednesday night.
He was taken to Beitbridge District hospital by his son Brian where he later died.
“Our hearts are heavy with grief and we will sadly miss him. He was a hardworking man who loved his family and was a darling of many people who loved the sport of boxing,” said Hilda.
“He had a strong passion for the sport.”
The Destroyer is survived by his wife Sithandazile, eight children and five grandchildren.
She said burial arrangements will be announced soon and mourners are gathered at House number 1123 in Dulibadzimu.
The Destroyer was born in Chipinge in a family of three and did his primary education at St John School before completing his secondary education at Elam Mission in Nyanga.
He moved to Masvingo where he got his first job at Chevron Hotel.
He launched his boxing career in Masvingo before moving to Peters Hotel in Beitbridge in 1976 where he started as a barman and was later appointed general manger three years later.
He retired in 2014.
Bonyongo became a professional boxer in 1982 where he fought boxers of repute who included Juke Box, George Foreman and Danger Masango, Black Tiger and Kilimanjaro.
Between 1982 and 1991 he had won eight of his 11 fights.
At the time of his death, The Destroyer was the owner of Peters Bottle Store and a cattle farm.
Online Reporter