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The resurgence of boxing!

09 Nov, 2018 - 00:11 0 Views

eBusiness Weekly

Chipo Sabeta and Jeffrey Murimbechi
Harare is fast turning into the hub of prestige boxing. Last month at Wild Geese Lodge, a new trend was unleashed in the former black tie prestige amateur events at the premier of the King of the Ring fight night.

Sixteen fighters took to the ring in eight amateur bouts structured into three two minute rounds instead of the conversational three minute rounds.

Boxing lovers had an even bigger treat because none of the 16 had ever thrown a punch in official sport ever.

Imagine a fight card made of miners, pilots, chefs, disc jockeys and administrators — that was the composition of this fight.

Stud Ervine and Tino Parirenyatwa started the first which went the full distance, Parirenyatwa’s face oozed with blood as a testament of the severity of the bout which ended in a draw.

Bout two lived to the billing and spectators who had forked out as much as $150 a ticket to raise money for the St Josephs Boys Charity, got their money’s worth when professional Chef Andre Myburg and 37-year-old pilot Joe Mparuri took to the ring.

Mparuri started off with loads of flare but Myburg got the first technical knock-out in one minute and 54 seconds leaving Mparuri with a massive concussion.

“Most of the guys have never boxed or trained before, some guys took at least six months to prepare for these fights.

I was ready for this and I really wanted the fight to go longer in fact I wanted a three minute round,” said Myburg.

Sebastian Smythe was victorious against Barry Longhurst in a match ending in the 3rd round but which was decided by anonymous vote. Mark Howes was the fitter of the two in the 4th fight taking James Honey into the last round and winning again by unanimous vote.

Cam Mason beat cricketer Craig Dollar in what was the more structured of fights as Mason got the better of Dollar.

The main bout of the night was the heavy weights in bout eight.

Both big men weighed over 100kg and the exchange of blows was electric.

As with the rest of the fights that evening, the level of athleticism separated the fighters and Surtees was the ultimate winner taking matters into the final to signify the end of proceedings.

“It was a thrilling spectacle that we started off for charity and we will be having the same event next year. Good to see our crazy idea of getting regular guys to get into the ring and give a good show of boxing,” said one of the event organisers Steward Ervin.

It goes to show that Zimbabwe should remodel sponsorship packages for sport as every fighter had an individual sponsor and every element of the night had a specific investor.

Amateur boxing is on the rise in Zimbabwe and taking a leaf from the Kings of the Ring, corporates can still contribute to competitive sports in combined clusters that culminate to epic events

Meanwhile, Kalakoda Promotions in conjunction with Kwesé TV have teamed up yet again to bring to Zimbabwe a novel boxing fiesta which will be held at the Harare City Sports Centre on November 30.

Kwesé Sports has been behind Zimbabwe boxing sport, bringing series of “Friday Fight Nights” on regular basis.

Duped the “Redemption” Zimbabwe top boxers Chiedza Homakoma, Westley McDade, Elvis Moyo and Tapiwa Jerevaza will hit the ring.

Moyo, who is based in South Africa is expected back in Harare when Friday Night boxing Series returns to these shores with what appears a mouth-watering boxing bill.

Another headline fight will feature top female boxer Hombakomba, who early in the year shocked former long-time champion Monalisa Sibanda with a brutal first round knock-out to claim the Zimbabwe title.

The fight bill has a good mix of up-and-coming and established Zimbabwean talent.

“These events are becoming a key part of how we activate the Kwesé brand in Zimbabwe, they provide a fantastic platform for local Zim and African talent, and a means to show the rest of Africa that Zimbabwe is open for business and the new mecca of African boxing,” Kwesé manager Dorothy Zimuto said.

Another ring battle is expected next week when former welterweight champion Charles Manyuchi is set to stage another boxing tournament in Mutare under the Manyuchi Sports Academy.

Zimbabwean boxers have dominated the Charles Manyuchi Sports Academy since its inception this year.

Aimed at developing boxing in Zimbabwe, the tournament is one of a series held under his academy in Masvingo at Great Zimbabwe and Chivhu earlier this year.

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