The Sunday Mail
Makomborero Mutimukulu Sports Editor
ZIMBABWEAN boxer Elvis “The Bomber” Moyo needed to be clinical on Friday night and he was all that and more as he won the World Boxing Federation continental title at the Harare International Conference Centre.
In front of a passionate home crowd, Moyo – who earns his keep as a mixed martial arts fighter in South Africa – applied the sweet science almost to perfection and stopped Bernad Adie in the third round. The home fans, who had seen Chamunorwa “Sting” Gonorenda dismantling his opponent to win the WBF Africa cruiserweight title, wanted Moyo to get on with it – fast.
However, the 33-year-old had to be smart against the 44-year-old Kenyan. The heavyweight title bout was the main event of the Harare‘Geddon, a nine-bout boxing extravaganza put together by Kalakoda Promotion and Kwese Sport.
It lived up to its billing. Moyo, who had taken a four-year sabbatical from boxing, unleashed powerful body shots from round one.
Adie, who at 204cm held an 8cm height advantage on Moyo, sought to do the business with his jab, but with his opponent using the ring effectively and defending well, the odds were always stacked against the Viper of East Africa.
Adie landed a few powerful ones but Moyo counter-punched impressively, forcing the Kenyan to back off. On the few occasions that he chose to go upstairs, the Zimbabwean treaded a fine line and Adie complained of getting hit behind the head on several occasions.
A back of the head punch is illegal in boxing but Moyo got away with a couple on Friday night. As the third round began, the crowd sensed blood, got onto its feet and urged Moyo to go for the kill as they sang the iconic “Yave Nyama Yekugocha”.
Moyo obliged with a series of punches, including a smashing uppercut that had Adie staggering. The Kenyan backed into the corner, dropped his guard, and got punished even more before the referee stepped in and stopped the fight.
TKO. Moyo the WBF All-Africa champion. The crowd in seventh heaven. The Zimbabwean first held the belt in 2013 before being stripped off it after failing to put up a mandatory title defence.
Moyo said the latest triumph was much sweeter. “Doing it in front of such a crowd makes it even very special,” he said. “I hit him hard in the second round and in the third round he came out breathing heavily and his punches got weaker and when the fans started singing that song ‘Baya Wabaya’ I knew it was time to finish him off.”
Moyo’s triumph ensured that Zimbabwe landed the two continental belts that were at stake as earlier, Gonorenda had the WBF Africa cruiserweight title strapped around his waist.
Gonorenda was ruthless, knocking out Tanzanian Kamanji Ramadan inside a minute and 37 seconds to land the hitherto vacant title.
The Zimbabwean came out charging and Ramadan had no answers for such power, for such speed. That the Tanzanian did not kiss the canvas earlier is testimony to his strong resolve.
“Kamanji is a strong guy because others would have gone down inside 30 seconds,” said Gonorenda soon after claiming the sixth TKO of his career.
“I am thrilled to have won this title in the manner I did because all I wanted to do was put up a show for my countrymen who came out in their numbers to support me.”
