The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda
Zimbabwean boxing will break new ground on Friday when the country hosts its maiden “Friday Fight Nights” – a pan-African boxing show with potential to attract over 200 million viewers across the continent.
The Harare International Conference Centre is the venue, and Elvis “Bulawayo Bomber” Moyo and Sting Gonorenda are up for World Boxing Federation African titles.
The eight-fight card has boxers from DRC, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
International sports channel ESPN Kwese and popular South African boxing promotions Kalakoda have teamed up to launch the “Friday Fight Nights” series, the first of which was in Namibia on July 28.
The Zimbabwean show has been dubbed “Harare’s Geddon” and up close view of the action from the VIP section will cost US$100 while the cheapest ticket is US$15.
South Africa-based heavyweight Moyo will square up against Bernard Adie of Kenya for the WBF Africa title in the main bout. Gonorenda will fight Kaminja Ramadan of Tanzania for the cruiserweight belt.
On the undercard, Zimbabwe’s Lawrence Moyo has a date with Wilson Masamba of Malawi in an international light welterweight match; and Felix Venganayi and George Otieno of Kenya clash in an eight-round lightweight bout.
Nicola Mutonhora squares up against Alick Mweda of Malawi in a non-title super middleweight bout.
Steve Kalakoda of Kalakoda Promotions said: “The iconic Rainbow Towers Conference Centre sets the stage for Harare’s boxing explosion where fighters from across the African continent will showcase their talent.
“The event falls within the Friday Fight Night African boxing series, a dynamic collaboration between Kalakoda Promotions and Kwese Sport, which is shaking up the status quo of boxing across Africa.”
The Zimbabwe National Boxing Board of Control has sanctioned the card.
From his base in South Africa, Zimbabwean heavyweight champion Moyo told The Sunday Mail Sport he was ready to explode.
“I am fully prepared, very fit and wrapping up my training sessions. I am 100 percent reloaded,” boasted Moyo.
Local trainer Clyde Musonda, who will be in Moyo’s corner, is convinced the Bulawayo Bomber will dazzle on Friday night.
“He might have been missing from the ring for quite some time but his knockout victory in Namibia last month proved that he is still a force,” said Musonda.
Moyo knocked out Akeem Tijani of Nigeria in the first edition of the Friday Fight Nights at The Dome in Namibia in July.
“The boxer has been training in South Africa and will join me in Harare on Monday. He has been working on adjusting to boxing rules since all this while he has been involved in mixed martial arts,” added Musonda.
