Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
UNTIL in recent years, boxing was not an everyday women’s sport.
Netball, volleyball, basketball and soccer are some of the sports that most people would assume a woman is playing.
But not for Glorious Moyo a rising amateur boxer from Bulawayo.
Instead of netball, volleyball or soccer balls to play with, hers its gloves in the ring.
Born on May 7, 2004 at Filabusi Hospital in Insiza District, Moyo did her primary education at Tshunkunyani Primary School before she proceeded for her secondary education at Magwegwe High School in Bulawayo from 2017-2020.
She narrated how she got involved in the sport.
“I used to play netball but since I was very short I would not make it into the first seven. The coach would look at the height of our opponents and when they were taller than me, I would be made a substitute. So I got frustrated and I decided to do an individual sport. I then took up boxing in 2019 but I had to stop because it was during the Covid-19 era,” she said.
Moyo said her rural background also had an influence on the sport she chose.
“I did my primary education at a rural school so it was easy for me to get into boxing because I used to play with boys. I joined Lobengula Boxing Club and I was so excited. I trained hard because there was an upcoming tournament in Victoria Falls, but the sponsor could only take a few boxers so I was left behind,” Moyo said.
For someone who was raring to go, not travelling to the resort town of Victoria Falls could have discouraged her, but it did not.
“One of my most memorable moments was when I was under the guidance of Anderson Sibanda when I returned to boxing in 2022. We had a tournament at Sizinda Boxing Club, I was still a novice but the coach told me to introduce myself to other boxers. It was tough but it was a good introduction because I won the fight,” she added.
Her hard work paid off as she was selected into the team which was to compete in a regional tournament.
“A few weeks after my fight we travelled to Malawi for Region V Youth Games. It was a difficult fight tournament because my opponent was more powerful than me. I lost the fight but I did not give up,”she said.
Availability or lack of sponsorship usually has an influence on the perfomance of players in most sporting disciplines and Moyo was among the victims.
“In 2024, I was supposed to go to Russia for Men and Women’s Elite Amateur Championships but I failed to go because of lack of money. It was a very painful period but a coach from Victoria Falls told us not to give up.”
When she speaks about boxing she speaks with so much passion and determination despite the setbacks.
“Last year in April, I failed to go to Serbia for the World Women’s Championships. Out of seven girls, only three girls travelled. It was disheartening to be left behind but that has not deterred me as I still hope that I will get other opportunities,” Moyo said.
Due to work commitments, she changed clubs joining Tshaka Youth Centre Boxing Club under the tutelage of Steven Masiyambumbi.
“I was not getting time to train because of time constraints so I opted to train at Tshaka. Last year I went to Port Elizabeth for a tournament. It was my first international tournament. I was very happy because it made me believe I can go far if I train hard,” she said.
About a month later, she was invited to a tournament in Gwanda where she was voted best female boxer. She then later took part in two fights which she lost.
“After losing two fights I knew that I had to put in extra effort in training so that I could bounce back. I am happy that I beat Gwenneth Nare in last week’s tournament on a unanimous points decision. Everyone thought I was down because they were doubting me after my previous losses but I proved them wrong,” she said.
Despite the setbacks she has faced, the boxer is still eager to go on.
“I have faced disappointments in boxing but I still want to train and fight in many tournaments so that I gain experience. Turning professional is not on my mind as yet. I want to bring many medals home. People sometimes discourage me from the sport but I know that boxing has so many opportunities. On the professional level there is a lot of money,” she said.
Many parents would be sceptical if their daughter was to choose boxing as a sport and it was the same Moyo.
“My parents did not want me to box. However when I was selected for the team to travel to Malawi they were happy. But after the Serbia and Russia failed trips they felt that the sport was now stressing me so I should leave it. But I know that if I turn professional I will excel and I will make money and my parents will be proud of me. I will dedicate my wins to them,” said the amateur boxer.
She added: “My parents stay in our rural home so I would mostly go to training when they are not around. Luckily my siblings never mentioned my involvement in the sport to them. Although they eventually found out,” she said.
Apart from boxing, Moyo still plays netball and said she even goes for rugby training while earning a living as a hairdresser.
She listed Mpendulo Donga and Lovelight Naledi Fusire as her favourite boxers locally because of the way they fight.
