Online Reporter
Langton Nyakwenda
Zimpapers Sports Hub
WHEN he is in the ring, he will be fighting not only against his opponents but also battling a host of demons.
He will be fighting against some of the problems he has faced in life, his upbringing and some social ills.
That is why Nyasha Phiri is determined to hurt any opponent standing in front of him, as soon as the first bell rings.
Last Saturday, at the City Sports Centre, the 26-year-old boxer needed less than three minutes to win the national belt.
He floored Dilan Kanyemba in two minutes and 33 seconds to become the new national lightweight champion.
The fight was part of the Independence boxing tournament held in Harare.
Growing up in the streets of Gweru, Phiri was always a strong fighter.
Neighbours always reportedly, had squabbles with Phiri’s mother whenever the boy would beat up their kids.
Unfortunately, his father died when he was still young and he was raised by his mother.
This all rushed into his mind when he was crowned the new national lightweight champion at the City Sports Centre last Saturday.
The last few days have been surreal for Phiri, who has now won all his four professional fights by knockouts.
“Honestly, it’s been good.
“But I don’t really feel like I am coming from a fight.
“The training ahead of the fight was extreme, it was like I was preparing for a world title fight,” Phiri told Zimpapers Sports Hub during a workout at Nashua gym in Harare yesterday.
After almost a decade of toiling in the gym, Phiri is finally a national champion.
He fights under the Shumba Boxing Academy, who are managed by former lightweight champion Wesley “Shumba” McDade.
Veteran coach Denver Wayne looks after the boxer’s fitness and technical aspects of his game.
“I don’t know if I was too good for the opponent or the guy was too weak,” bragged Phiri.
He has since earned the nickname “Bricks” because od his hard punches.
Phiri joined Shumba Boxing Academy as an amateur and recorded over 50 wins in that category.
He now has four wins out as many bouts in his rising professional career.
On May 9, Phiri will take to the ring in Harare for his fifth professional bout against a yet to be confirmed Malawian opponent.
It will, however, be a non-title fight.
“After that, I think there will also be bigger fights.
“My handlers are trying to bring me up in the right way.
“They are not just trying to get to the top, they want to take it one step at a time.
“But I always tell them, I feel that I’m going to bring a world title to Zimbabwe.
“And I feel like not only a world title, but I think world titles.
“I just feel it to myself.
“I don’t know where the feeling comes from, but I just believe that I’m going to be the guy that does it,” Phiri said.
Although his management team is facing some financial challenges in a local boxing economy that is not profitable, Phiri says he will remain determined.
Currently, Phiri gets support from a company called Rossi Tyres while Nashua help with gym facilities.
He credits his coach Wayne for his style of boxing.
Wayne has worked with several top boxers including former World Boxing Council Silver welterweight champion Charles Manyuchi.
“My coach has been really good. He knows what we need to do before the fight,” Phiri said.
His background also pushes him to defy odds.
“I’m coming from a family of two where it’s only me and my little sister.
“We were raised by our mother after dad passed away when my sister was still a baby.
“Growing up with a single mother was not that easy.
“My mom always told me I always picked up fights with other kids, even those who were way older than me.
“I was always beating them.
“I also heard that my father was a well-known person who was into martial arts, so perhaps it’s the bloodline.”
Phiri has warned his future opponents.
“They should be worried,” he declared.
“When I’m fighting, you know, I always tell my manager and my coach, that I want to hurt my opponent. I don’t know if it’s a good mentality or a bad one.
“But I don’t really like to win on points. I like to win in a way that everyone will know I am a superior fighter.
“I like to hurt people. When I’m fighting you, it’s like, for me, it’s personal. I want to hurt you, so I think that’s also a way that, you know, knockouts also come from.
“I don’t need to score. I need to knock you out.
“Perhaps that’s why people call me ‘Bricks’ because I will be throwing punches as hard as bricks.”
Peter Tanyanyiwa