adminAugustine Hwata Sports Reporter
HISTORY is beckoning for Zimbabwe boxing when the nation hosts its first ever world title fight billed for the City Sports Centre in October.Zimbabwe has never produced a world boxing champion but is close to getting one when Tapiwa Tembo trades leather with Zambia’s Gibon Kamota in a World Boxing Union bantamweight title fight scheduled for October 26 in the capital.
Former Olympic Games boxer Clyde Musonda, who is now running the Delta Force Boxing Promotions, is making headways to bring the first world title fight in the country.
The title fell vacant when the holder from Germany was stripped after he failed to defend the crown in the mandatory 90 days, leaving the top contenders Tembo and Kamota for scramble for the chance.
“We are hoping to host what should be biggest boxing tournament in Zimbabwe to date since it’s a world title fight.
“More importantly, Zimbabwe could produce a world champion. Contracts for the boxers are ready and the belt has since been dispatched from Germany,” said Musonda.
The belt should arriving in Harare on Tuesday next week ahead of a road show to promote the event.
“The two boxers should part of the road show before they fight in the 12 rounds of three minutes each,” said Musonda.
A purse of US$2 500 is being dangled for each of the boxers and the WBU have already confirmed the officials who will preside over the historic bout.
“We had produced continental champions and Commonwealth champions like Kilimanjaro and Zvenyika but we have never hosted a world title fight that I can recall,” said Musonda.
Artur Ellensohn from Germany has been appointed the match supervisor and will be assisted by Zimbabwe National Boxing Control Board chairman Paul Nenjarama.
The match referee will be Arno Pokrandt from Germany while John Govha (Zimbabwe), Astridah Mwale (Zambia) and Alfred Bukwana (South Africa) are the judges.
While the WBU bantamweight bout will be the main match on the card, Delta Force have also arranged six other supporting fights.
In the main undercard fight, Diana Makumbe, who fight from the Bitcon Black Fists Promotions stable, will take on Patience Master for the national women’s bantamweight belt which is vacant.
The other fight will see Nicola Mutonhora enter the square ring against Silas Mandeya in a non-title light middleweight fight with Last Magare set to box Trymore Muzire in a lightweight contest.
Musonda said he is hoping to rope in Trevor Mpofu and Edmos Takawira in the other bouts on the night while a musical show will also be held on the sidelines of the boxing bouts.
Online Reporter