Lovemore Dube, [email protected]
ELVIS Victor Moyo, one of Zimbabwe’s most outstanding talents in grappling sport in recent years, says Ndabezinhle Phiri carries real hopes for the nation in international boxing.
Phiri will fight in Liverpool in the United Kingdom on November 12 for the International Boxing Organisation title.
This will be the first time that a Zimbabwean boxer fights for a world title. Others like Charles Manyuchi have fought at global level but at a lower rung.
Phiri who started off at Anderson Sibanda’s Lobengula Boxing Academy is now based in South Africa and has fought 11 professional bouts. He has won all and five of which were knockouts and on
November 12 he will face a boxer who is highly rated on the super bantamweight division.
Speaking at the weekend, Moyo who has been World Boxing Federation (Africa) heavyweight champion and enjoyed his time in mixed martial arts said: “Phiri carries real hopes for the nation.”
Moyo said he has watched the Lobengula lad grow in stature over the last four years and is happy with the youngster’s work ethic, commitment and discipline.
“When he arrived here we were already established here and we saw him learn how to crawl, walk and run. Even at a time he can run, he has maintained the same character which is very important.
Some tend to blow with the wind and fail to focus on things that may enhance their careers.
“It is good to have such a youngster carrying the hopes of a nation. I have faith Ndabezinhle may become a world champion across all stables that control boxing in the world,” said Moyo.
Phiri is ranked fifth in the world by the powerful World Boxing Council (WBC).
Moyo called on Zimbabweans in the diaspora to go in numbers and cheer one of their own.
Liverpool is the same city where Letjani Dube another budding professional boxer whose father Leon from Kezi in Matobo District, comes from.
“I call on our brothers and sisters in the United Kingdom to come in their numbers to cheer up the boy. Let them create an intimidating atmosphere. He is a local lad so he will have an advantage on the terraces, but if we mobilise support for the boy, they will know who we are,” said Moyo.
Moyo called for support for the boy beyond his preparations.“We have a real world champion prospect; let us support him, let us push him to be the world champion we envisage. This calls for us to promote and make resources available. It is also an opportunity to capacitate Lobengula Boxing Academy where he came from,” said Moyo who started off in Nketa, training with the likes of Mandla Phuthi before moving to Tshaka Youth Centre to work with Phillip Striker and sparring with Thamsanqa Dube.
Notably Dube also held the African version belt of an international body, the World Boxing Association at some stage emphasising Bulawayo’s potential in the sport.
