dyton mupawaenda
Langton Nyakwenda-Zimpapers Sports Hub
FOURTEEN bouts of blood, sweat and tears.
This aptly sums up the Rise of Champions 5 boxing tournament which rumbles at 7 Arts Theatre in Avondale in Harare tonight.
Two World Boxing Federation title fights are on the card, and the WBF president Howard Goldberg is already in the country to witness a potentially thrilling night of boxing.
Zimbabwe’s rising boxer Tinashe Majoni takes on Aubrey Masamba of Malawi for the WBF Super Flyweight belt.
Hassan Milanzi will defend his WBF Super Bantamweight title against Abdul Kubira of Tanzania.
Charles Manyuchi is also on the bout card.
The former World Boxing Council Silver welterweight champion, is now fighting in the heavyweight category and will clash with Limbano Lano of Malawi.
Manyuchi weighed 102,61kg at yesterday’s weigh in held at Pride Boxing Gym at Borrowdale’s Sam Levy Village.
He is still undoubtedly the most popular boxer in Zimbabwe although he is now past his prime.
But, the WBF president, Goldberg, thinks Zimbabwe has not fully leveraged on Manyuchi’s popularity on the international scene.
Goldberg also took a swipe at some local promoters who lack a match-making strategy.
Citing Tatenda Biningu as an example, Goldberg urged local boxers to desist from taking up fights just for the sake of money at the expense of career progress.
Biningu automatically lost his WBF title soon after losing a hastily arranged World Boxing Organisation Africa title fight in Windhoek, Namibia last November.
He is from the Charles Manyuchi Boxing Academy.
“I am here in Zimbabwe to witness two very promising fighters, Majoni and Milanzi, fighting for WBF titles.
“There’s so much talent in Zimbabwe that is untouched,” said Goldberg.
However, Goldberg feels some local boxers are not being handled properly.
“Sometimes the promoters get it wrong, they need guidance.
“You have Biningu, he went to fight in Namibia, but he is one of my champions and we had lined him up for a world title fight.
“We wanted to match him very carefully. He could have fought at our convention, which will take place in Austria in September.
“And I told his handlers, if he fights in Namibia and gets knocked out, he loses his title.
“And he loses the opportunity to fight in Europe. In Europe, there are promoters there who will watch you.
“And if you look good, you know, you have made it.”
Biningu lost to Mateus Heita of Namibia in Windhoek, a fight Goldberg felt should have never happened.
“That was disappointing for me because Biningu is a real talent, he needed to be guided, and I don’t think he was guided correctly.
“I think it’s important, you know, to nurture the young stars in Zimbabwe.
“And there are a lot of good boxers, but there’s no quick fix in boxing.
“You have to plan very carefully,” reckons Goldberg.
He conceded that WBF are not as powerful as other top sanctioning bodies like the WBC, but he thinks his organisation is a “huge stepping stone.”
And Majoni, a talented boxer from Otto Boxing Club, could benefit from holding a WBF belt, should he beat Masamba tonight.
“I have prepared the same way I prepare all my other fights,” said Majoni.
“It’s high time I grab an international belt.”
“His opponent, Masamba, says he is not in Harare for a weekend out.
“I have come here prepared and I want to take the WBF Super Flyweight belt back to Malawi,” he declared.
Majoni’s stable mate, Milanzi, defends his WBF Super Bantamweight title against Kubira, and the Zimbabwean is confident of victory.
“Kubira can’t just come into my own backyard and take what’s mine.
“The belt will stay in Zimbabwe no doubt about that,” said Milanzi.
Manyuchi fights Lano of Malawi as one of the main supporting bouts.
“I am now a boxing doctor,” bragged Manyuchi, a former WBF middleweight champion.
He also held the WBC and Global Boxing Union titles in an illustrious career.
“I want to teach Lano a lesson.
“I am fighting before the other Zimbabwean boxers, because I want them to take notes,” added Manyuchi.
This is the second time Manyuchi is fighting Lano, having knocked out the Malawian in Chivhu two years ago.
But Lano has declared war on Manyuchi.
“The last time I promised to eat him alive, but something went wrong and I lost, but this time I will skin Manyuchi alive,” thundered Lano.
The bill has been promoted by top female promoter Lindsay Earle, who is a favourite to win the Promoter of the Year at tomorrow’s Annual National Sports Awards set for Cresta Lodge in Harare tomorrow.
Rise of Champions 5 Bout card
Talent Munda v Elson Chidhakwa (Bantamweight), Zvikomborero Chemhere v Ephraim Dzingisai (Bantamweight), Shungu Kupani v Privilege Matutu (Featherweight), Nyasha Phiri v Patson Mutengwa (Lightweight), Mike Mukariri v Trynos Zihove (Lightweight), Alice Mbewe v Loveness Khoka (Bantamweight), Tafadzwa Mushando v Ascot Vavarirai (Lightweight), Bongani Makovora v Faniya Musekwa (Super Bantamweight), Freeman Mabvongwe v Lawrence Chiyangwa (Middleweight), Nyasha Hwata v Evans Husayihwevhu (Light Welterweight national title), Charles Manyuchi v Limbano Lano (Heavyweight), Aliyah Phiri v Mbaraka Mtangembunda (Lightweight), Hassan Milanzi v Abdul Kubira (WBF Super Bantamweight title), Tinashe Majoni v Aubrey Masamba (WBF Super Flyweight title).
Online Reporter