Boxing fans to wait longer

Lovemore Dube

BULAWAYO professional boxing fans will have to wait a little bit longer before the city can play host to a bill.

The 28 October proposed tournament that would have been promoted by Deltaforce stable will no longer take place.

This was confirmed by Deltaforce founding director Clyde Musonda. He said unforeseen challenges had forced the change of dates and when 2 December was mentioned, they could not proceed with the event as it coincided with writing of examinations at the chosen venue.

The organisers of the event had identified the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre’s Hall Two as the most appropriate venue for what would have been the first tournament to take place in Bulawayo since 2012.

“We had since proposed 2 December so the venue people said there will be examinations being written there. We need to find a new date in December,” said Musonda.

A former boxer in the lighter weights, Musonda said mid-month December would not be ideal for him as he would have left for Australia on 15 December.

He will travel with Kudakwashe “Takemoney” Chivandire for a World Boxing Council bantamweight title fight.

Musonda said he would disclose Chiwandire’s opponent’s name at a press conference next week on Tuesday.

Lack of promoters has affected professional boxing in Bulawayo.

The city once boasted of boxers of the calibre of Trust Ndlovu, Nokuthula Tshabangu, Kid Power, Kilimanjaro, Ambrose Mlilo, Fundisi Moyo, Sipho Moyo, Mnqobi Mhlophe, Modicai Donga, Tony “Bolo” Benson, Ringo Star, Jay Nardo, Bright Spider, Jabulani Gombiro, Simon Ngulube, Thamsanqa Dube and Fredrick Chisoro who were either champions or top ranked in their divisions.

Promoters in Harare are reluctant to give boxers from outside the capital fights as the expenses incurred in food, accommodation, transport and purses is prohibitive.