Online Reporter
FORMER Zimbabwe and Commonwealth flyweight champion Arifonso Zvenyika says growing up in a tough Mbare environment made him a champion in the ring.
Born in Harare’s Mbare suburb on 25 November 1975, Zvenyika said life was hard and one had to be tough to survive bullying.
While he hung around with older boys, he also had to be rough to survive on his own when he was in the company of his peers. Coming home as late as midnight was the kind of life he lived and now a born-again Christian, Zvenyika does not want to see the next generation going through that.
“They deserve better and we all must ensure that happens. God is the maker and problem solver, Christianity can help overcome all challenges. I have survived to this day because of Christ and I regret the rough life I led where at the age of six I could stay out up to midnight with my older brothers and their friends,” said Zvenyika, a father of nine.
He attended St Michaels in Mbare and dropped out of school.
At the age of nine, Zvenyika was already training as a boxer at Stoddart Hall in Mbare under the watchful eyes of Langton “Schoolboy” Tinago who was a big name and a Commonwealth champion.
But one of his brothers’ friend a footballer and boxer, Martin Nyirenda stands out for Zvenyika.
“He is the one who encouraged me to take boxing. I thank him because I later rose to prominence and the sport took me to places,” said Zvenyika.
His first fight as a professional after a winning streak of over 20 fights in the amateur ranks was against future featherweight champion Trust Ndlovu in 1993.
“It was a baptism of fire a catch weight contest that should not have been. However, I was eager to turn professional and I accepted to fight Trust Ndlovu. I was 52kg and he was 57kg and he won on points,” said Zvenyika.
Because of a dearth in the flyweight ranks back then, Zvenyika’s next fight was against Paul Johnson in 1993, a title fight and knocked him out in the eighth round.
“I am a left-handed southpaw boxer and height also helped me for my weight division and I was just too good for Johnson,” said Zvenyika who was inspired by Sugar Ray Leonard a legendary middleweight boxer of the 1970s and early 1980s era.
“After watching footage of Sugar Ray, I told myself I want to be like him. I want to be a champion and that made me work harder. Ray was something else, his movement, footwork, technique, had eyes of a tiger, brilliant defence, speed and punch. All about him as a boxer was as if he was a textbook for all in boxing to learn from. I enjoyed his fight against another great, Marvin Hagler on the clip I watched,” said Zvenyika.
In no time Zvenyika was Zone Six champion after stopping Zambian Vincent Mulenga in the second round in a tournament that was sponsored by Stalin Mau Mau’s Condomat.
Zvenyika fought over 70 professional fights and lost just 12. One fight he remembers vividly was the only stoppage on African soil when Tanzanian Mbwana Mantumbwa knocked him out in the second round.
“He was a good boxer and that was my only knockout loss for as far as I can remember,” said Zvenyika.
Gweru’s Kizito Mutava rates as the most challenging boxer from Zimbabwe who gave him a torrid time in the ring.
“That guy was a complete boxer. He could move, stay on his toes, good defence and probably the hottest puncher I ever faced. Kizito Mutava was bad news and that fight even though I beat him on points, it was the toughest and one of the best slug-outs I ever engaged in,” said Zvenyika.
His fight with Mutava at the beginning of 1998 was the litmus test set by the boxing board and Mau Mau that whoever wins would proceed to Scotland to fight Paul Weir for the Commonwealth flyweight title. “So I got the chance to travel with my coach Gilbert Josamu and manager Mau Mau to face Weir. It was in Glasgow, his home town and everything was against me and I had to produce my A game to pull that one as the referee was against me. Weir head-butted me in the 10th round and I came back in the next firing on all cylinders to knock him out. Had gotten him on the canvas but the biased referee could not count him out but instead deliberately gave him a breather conveniently, I could not be swayed as a barrage of blows had him on the floor again. Seemingly fearing for Weir’s life the referee ended the fight abruptly,” said Zvenyika.
In the same year Zvenyika successfully defended his title against Cathy Knox at the same venue.
Months later, Zvenyika would relinquish his title to Damian Kelly in a split hometown decision.
“I fought very well, used every trick but a hometown decision saw me lose on a split decision by the judges,” said Zvenyika.
He believes a rematch was deliberately not considered as they wanted to protect Damian.
He said during those days he fought for US$4 000 which was good pickings and from that he had to pay his manager, trainer and 10 percent going to the board.
Zvenyika eventually called time on his career in 2002 on health grounds.
Zvenyika was a keen admirer of Farai Master Kachigwada, Hastings Rasani, Shepherd Donzva, Misheck Kondwane who were his stablemates at Mau Mau’s stable at Raylton Club in Harare.
He is proud to have worked with protégées Wesly Macdade, Tinashe Madziwanana, Ronald Tamani and Gibson Mapfumo. Zvenyika admired Trust Ndlovu, Mutava, Donzva and Mordicai Donga.
“These were great fighters. They gave fans value for their money with great showmanship and skill,” said Zvenyika.
Of his son Arifonso Zvenyika Jnr he said: “He has potential to surpass my standards. He is a dedicated boxer who loves the sport, his life is all about boxing, he sleeps, drinks, eats and breathes boxing,” said the former Commonwealth champion.
He is grateful for all the support in and outside the ring he got from Mau Mau.
The Zvenyikas were in Bulawayo on Friday and yesterday for the aborted Deltaforce Promotions bill.
