Pugilists to trade leather at Manor

Ngqabutho Moyo Sports Reporter.
BULAWAYO boxing enthusiasts are in for a treat as the cream of the city’s top amateur boxers trade leather at Manor Hotel this afternoon. The bill promises fireworks after a series of successful events that have been held at the venue since the beginning of the year. This will be the fifth tournament held in Bulawayo with over 15 bouts lined up for what is expected to be a competitive afternoon.
The tournament will be used to identify boxers for the Region Five Games that will be held in December.

Baba vice chairman Ezwell Ndlovu called on boxing fans to come in numbers to support the pugilists.
“All is set for the Baba boxing tournament, we hope that after hosting successful tournaments before, our fans will continue to show support by coming in their numbers,” he said.

Ndlovu said all Bulawayo clubs would be represented while a club in Gwanda has also confirmed participation.
“All Bulawayo clubs will be there as well as pugilists from Gwanda.

“We are expecting interesting bouts from the girls’ category,” said Ndlovu.
Boxers from Bulawayo clubs Nketa, Nkulumane, Tshaka, Lobengula, Luveve’s Percy, HQ One Brigade, Young Arts and Bulawayo West will battle it out in different weight divisions.

Lobengula have Denzel Mpofu and Wisemen Tshuma, from Nketa there are the Masiyambumbi brothers Samson and Brighton while HQ One Brigade have Casper Mnkandla heading their squad.

Percy Boxing Club will pin their hopes on Zimbabwe National Youth Games gold medalists Thenjiwe Foloma, Nyasha Nyongwe, Princess Msipha, Meldar Shoko and Estabel Ncube.

Veteran trainer Phillip “Striker” Ndlovu of Tshaka is pinning his hopes on Andile Ncube who also scooped gold at the recently held Zimbabwe National Youth Games.

Striker said they were looking forward to developing boxing in the country by frequently hosting tournaments at the same time preparing their boxers for the upcoming Region Five Games this December and other future tournaments.

“We are trying to develop boxing in our country and at the same time preparing some of our boxers who were selected to represent the country at the forthcoming Region Five Games,” he said.
Striker appealed for financial support for the sport.