The Sunday Mail
Arthur Choga
Some of the world’s greatest boxers have risen from tough upbringings to become global icons.
Although some of them self-destruct spectacularly, enhanced social support systems and changes in the way the sport looks after its stars is now helping to ensure young people are increasingly inspired to take up the sport.
Boxing fans call it the “sweet science”.
Last month, Kudakwashe Chiwandire defeated Mexican Zulina Munoz in a World Boxing Council Interim Super Bantamweight title fight.
Her victory created a huge buzz around the sport.
Boxing has always been a popular sport in Zimbabwe.
In the 1980s, there were youth clubs at most high-density suburbs’ community halls, where the main attraction would be the boxing ring.
Youngsters would often spar against each other.
A standard boxing round is three minutes.
The effort it takes to throw a punch to defeat an opponent means a boxer has to be fit to go for 12 rounds.
Some of the areas where boxing rings could be found are Mbare’s Number 7 Grounds, Marondera’s Rudhaka Stadium and Mutare’s Sakubva Stadium.
These facilities helped breed Zimbabwe boxing legends such as Gilbert “Giro’’ Josamu from Mbare.
He took on some of the best African and Commonwealth fighters of his time and gave as good as he got.
Proud “Kilimanjaro” Chinembiri won the African Boxing Union heavyweight title in 1982 before a packed Rufaro Stadium.
The 15000-strong boxing supporters who thronged Rufaro for the bout loved every minute of Kilimanjaro’s demolition of Adama Mensah.
It was a match that marked the Mbare-raised boxer’s rise to stardom.
He became an African champion and a Commonwealth hopeful, who had earned a bout with the eventual undisputed world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis in 1990.
The fight, however, never materialised.
Gweru-born Langton “Schoolboy’’ Tinago similarly established himself as a three-time Commonwealth champion across two weight classes — a record that still stands.
He took two lightweight crowns and a super-featherweight title.
Commonwealth titles also proved fertile hunting grounds for local boxers.
Alfonso Zvenyika, who was trained by the great Schoolboy at some point, took the Commonwealth light-flyweight championship title in 1998.
Other local boxers who made a name for themselves were Stix Macloud, Flash Chisango, Mordechai Donga, Arigoma Chiponda, Ambrose Mlilo and Joe “Breaker” Makaza.
As has become the norm, fanciful names have been common in boxing.
Tar Baby, Jukebox Timebomb, Kid Power and Bonyongo Destroyer are some of the names that have graced rings across the length and breadth of Zimbabwe.
Boxing has a dual path to stardom.
Amateur boxing hosts competitions such as the All-Africa Games.
However, the biggest title in amateur boxing is the Olympic gold medal.
Other boxers use the Olympics as a route to professional boxing.
United States legend Muhammad Ali, for example, won an Olympic gold medal in 1960 before turning professional.
He is now celebrated as one of the greatest heavyweight boxers.
While the country has a huge talent pool, a concerted drive to revive community spaces at which interested boxers can train together would be a great beginning. Combined stakeholder efforts involving local authorities, boxing administrators and corporates can help bring up the infrastructure needed.
With suitable incentives, identification of willing trainers can drive a nationwide move to find raw and trainable boxing talent.
The local boxing leadership, which was appointed recently, has a wonderful opportunity to catch the wave of success following Chiwandire, and bring boxing to a wider audience.
Making the sport safe and enjoyable will draw younger people to it. It will also give parents assurances that their children are safe playing the contact sport.
Boxing needs to celebrate its heroes and ensure they have a clear and admirable legacy, which will attract more people into the fold.
Corporate sponsors love a winning team, and there are fewer title holders on the level that boxing has at the moment.
It is time to throw a few strategic punches and take the sport onto the winner’s podium.
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