The Sunday Mail
Sports Reporter
AT his peak, Arifonso “Mosquito” Zvenyika was the Commonwealth flyweight boxing champion and dreams were abound. At his lowest, between 2000 and 2002, he was one of the State’s guests at a Harare prison. Now as he battles to get to his feet, Zvenyika is looking at unearthing the next big thing in local boxing through his Mosquito Boxing Academy.
The 38-year old also wants to make sure that the next star does not lose his marbles as was the case with him when he won the Commonwealth gong.
Zvenyika recently registered himself as a boxing promoter but with his purse empty, the former pugilist does not need telling that the odds are stuck against him.
“To be honest promotion requires sponsorship because without it, we are chasing the wind. Unless big companies like Econet Wireless and Mbada Diamonds come in, we can only rely on well-wishers.
“However, as a former boxer walking in the streets, I feel it is my duty to do something to raise the profile of the sport. I am in it purely for the love of it, that is why when I organised bouts in 2010 and 2011 I paid boxers without getting anything in return,” he said.
Zvenyika believes he can use the experience garnered in his journeyman career to improve the sport.
“I had the privilege of travelling to countries like England and Australia during my days as a boxer and I learnt a lot about how they run their sport. I will try to implement the same strategies as well,” he said.
“At Mosquito Boxing Academy, we have two professional boxers and 15 amateurs and we believe that with enough support we can produce world champions.
“Apart from boxing we also endeavour to teach the youngsters some life skills…I don’t want any one of them repeating the same mistakes I made.”
