Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
FORGOTTEN boxer Peter Pambeni is back to the sweet science with a bang after bagging the World Alliance Boxing Association lightweight supreme title in Kitwe, Zambia on Saturday night.
The former WBO Africa champion tagged along with Partson Mutengwa, who brought home the WABA Super Lightweight gong from the same tournament.
Another boxer, Tinashe Zihove, was, however, unsuccessful in his bid to bring a belt of his own after losing his fight to American star Jo Gordon.
But in the end, it was the boxers from Zimbabwe who captured the imagination of many in the tournament dubbed “Night of Long Knives-2” with internationally-acclaimed referees John Shipauka and Ray Chavez taking charge of the ring.
And Pambeni brought back the hands of time with his conventional left, sending Nigerian star boxer Yusuf Adeniji to the canvas moments into the first round.
The highly-rated Nigerian, with an impressive record of 17-1-0, never recovered in time to beat the referee’s count, and just like that, Pambeni strolled to victory.
“Peter Pambeni is back, right back,” he shouted.
“Look, I was never going to walk away from boxing. I am really excited with the victory, especially given the way I attained it.
“I knew the opponent was never going to make it easy for me if you look at his impressive record.
“But my strategy worked wonders, and I would like to thank everyone involved, my family, and the board (Zimbabwe National Wrestling and Boxing Control Board) for encouraging me to take a step back into the ring.
“This is just the beginning, and when the beginning brings you joy by delivering such a coveted title, you know you are destined to scale the same heights, if not better, remember in 2019 I was the WBO Africa champion.”
Mutengwa was equally charming in the ring with his trademark retreat and counter style, ultimately seeing his American opponent Efrain Esquivias off in the seventh round via a Technical Knock-out.
“I am very happy to have managed to win this belt. It means a lot for me and my country,” said Mutengwa.
“It wasn’t an easy fight at all. But I would like to thank God for making it happen. The fight was very tough. It was never going to be a stroll in the park given the calibre of the boxer I was facing. But I am happy I managed to out manoeuvre him in the seventh round.”
The pugilists were all under the wings of trainer/manager Clyde Musonda of the Delta force Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts Academy.
“The boys have made the country proud. You know the opposition that they faced aren’t small boxers in the world of boxing.
“When we went there, we never expected to bring back the belts. We just thought we were going there to prepare for more fights in the future, but the character shown by my boxers was out of this world,” said Musonda.
“I am absolutely happy with the way they performed. Zihove was also good, but he faced a really top boxer who had a better strategy than his, but he was never lacking in effort.”
