adminDube and Moyo are former sparring partners. The challenger is now based in South Africa where he has been exposed to better training facilities and sparring partners.
In an interview this week Moyo said he was ready to fight any boxer who dared agree to a contract to face him. The Bulawayo boy opted out of the cruiserweight division early this year on discovering he could not contain his weight at under 91kg.
Last week he tilted the scales at 110kg — a good weight for a heavyweight. What could make him a boxer of note in the division is the fact that he has good height and the heart to take punches.
“I will fight Thamu and anyone, anytime, anywhere even Harry Simon of Namibia,” said Moyo.
Moyo’s boxing fortunes recently received a boost when a South African company Brunel offered him sponsorship and demanded he quits his job as a bouncer. He now trains two times a day and was even bought a car and a laptop as part of the deal.
Brunel are using Moyo to advertise their new product called Elev8 and have since giving Moyo — once called the Bulawayo Bomber — the ring name of Elev8R.
“I got a sponsor, they make a new product called Elev8 and that is what they are using to sponsor me. They have nicknamed me ‘The Elev8toR’, they pay me good, bought me a 2012 model brand new car and a laptop to watch and research on YouTube.
“They stopped me from being a bouncer so my sole job is to train, train, train so I train three times a day, that is two sessions a road run and two sessions in the gym,” said Moyo.
Moyo is credited with going all the way to six rounds against Flo Simba, the boxer who floored Zimbabwean champion Dube last year in an non-title contest.
But like most heavier weight boxers, Moyo has suffered from a lack of fights.
His last fight was a win over Kali Kelembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Prior to that he had beaten South African heavyweight Stephen Castle.
Zimbabwe boxing needs a facelift, promoters need to get busy and revive the sport through regular, decently paying tournaments. Moyo strongly believes he has what it takes to give the sport a kick — he has the audience appeal and looks.
Heavyweight champion Dube could not be drawn to comment on the Moyo challenge. “I have no comment about him and his challenge, when the right time comes I will speak,” said the big boxer at his Pumula East home on Monday evening.
Dube has had to do odd jobs that include brickmaking and selling tyres to survive since in Zimbabwe boxing does not pay and fights are far between.
He has not fought since 29 August last year when he lost to Simba.
Meanwhile, Michael Diwa of Masvingo could emerge as one to beat in the heavyweight division.
“I am confident Michael Diwa could do well in the division. He is young and has the appetite to be a great boxer,” said Charles Manyuchi the national welterweight division champion.
The other Zimbabwean heavyweight boxers are Chamunorwa Gonorenda, Smart Nkomo and Arigoma Chiponda.
Online Reporter