The Sunday Mail
Sports Reporter
A window of opportunity has opened up for local promoters following revelations by the boxing board that those willing to stage tournaments can now apply for consideration on a case-by-case basis.
Boxing has been on hold ever since the outbreak of the coronavirus in 2019. Hundreds of boxers and promoters who solely survive on the sport have been prejudiced as a result. However, promoters can now stage tournaments, but they have to meet all the Covid-19 health guidelines and protocols to protect athletes and officials.
This could be sweet news for boxing stables. Charles Manyuchi has not defended his World Boxing Federation middleweight title since winning the belt in September 2019.
The 31-year-old pugilist has been allowed to keep his belt by the WBF until the situation normalises, but his trainer Ali “Otto” Phiri is worried about the boxer’s deteriorating condition. “Charles is in Chivhu and I am just giving him a programme to follow but the situation is a bit tricky. The boxers are rusty; it is getting worse. They have been out of action for too long,” said Phiri.
The boxer has been balancing hustling and training, in anticipation of the title defence fight against Mohamed Sebyala of Uganda.
“I am just waiting for the lockdown to ease then we can start serious business,” Manyuchi said.
The return could be sooner than expected. The boxing board secretariat last week explained the current status of the sport. “We have been on record, as far as we are concerned, with regards to boxing and Covid-19 regulations. We are governed by a different Act of Parliament, different from the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC). So, statements issued by the SRC do not necessarily affect professional boxing and professional wrestling,” said Lawrence Zimbudzana, the boxing board secretary.
“The current position is to say that when a promoter wants to stage a tournament, the promoter is expected to come up with a plan (and) with measures that mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.
“Once we get that plan, we sit down with health experts and if we as the board are satisfied, we then take the request to the ministry for clearance of that specific tournament — not all boxing activities.
“So we are not going to have the general opening up of the sector. Anyone who wants to stage a tournament should apply to the board provided they have a proper plan that mitigates the spread of the virus.
“The tournaments for now will be virtual, with no fans. Fans can watch online,” said Zimbudzana.
While boxing activities are still on ice, other countries in the region, including Namibia, are hosting tournaments.
Local boxer Tinashe “Chairman” Madziwana is in Windhoek where he is set to fight Nathanael Kakololo for the African Boxing Union featherweight title on Saturday.
Veteran trainer Clyde Musonda will be in his corner.
The 32-year-old Madziwana, who last fought in 2019, is the holder of the Zimbabwe national super bantamweight belt.
