Donga ready to do it

22 Jan, 2017 - 00:01 0 Views

The Sunday Mail

Langton Nyakwenda
FORMER national super welterweight champion Mordicai “Big Fish” Donga says he is ready to work “flat out” as a member of the new Zimbabwe National Boxing Control Board. Although the return of Richard Hondo as chairman raised eyebrows – coming three years after he was thrown out for allegedly running down the sport for over 30 years – the inclusion of Donga has excited the boxing fraternity.
There is strong optimism that Donga, having suffered as a boxer at the hands of a successive board that seemed out of sync with the needs of the sport, will bring a new dimension to how boxing is administered.
Other members of the new board are corporate affairs guru Zenso Nsimbi, boxing trainers Thomas Kambuyi and Sipho M’nyamana Rutsate as well as Stella Motsi.
But most eyes are on Donga.
And the 38-year-old former champion, whose last recorded fight was an infamous loss to current WBC silver welterweight champion Charles Manyuchi on June 3, 2011, is excited by the new development.
“I was a boxer through and through. I started boxing from humble beginnings and never gave up so I guess it is payback time to the sport that made me who I am today,” said Donga.
“This (appointment) makes me feel really great. I am an inspiration not only to current boxers but those wishing to move into boxing administration.”
Donga reckons he will be the voice of the boxers in the new board.
“Boxing of late has been viewed as a sport for the poor but I promise to lure back the corporate world and build confidence in the sport.
“My belief is that boxers should be kept busy and supporters entertained. I will make sure I advocate for that,” he said.
Donga shot to national prominence in April 2004 when he captured the Zimbabwe super welterweight title with a knockout victory over Edmos Takawira at the Portugal Restaurant in Harare.
He retired in 2011, nine years after his debut at Raylton Sports Club.
In the last two years, Donga has been heavily involved with boxing promotion through his Bulawayo based Mordecai (Big Fish) Donga Boxing Academy.
However, he will have to step away from his promotion activities as per the rules and regulations governing local boxing.
The new boxing board has a three-year term.

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