BY MAGRETH RUZVIDZO
DeltaForce Academy manager Clyde Musonda has hailed the successful hosting of the Pound-for-Pound boxing tournament held on Saturday.
The series was the second tournament of such magnitude hosted this year following the Great Boxing Revival, which was hosted last month by veteran boxing promoter Stalin Mau Mau.
The tournament was used to bring back boxers to action following an extended break due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although those from outside the country failed to turn up for the tourney, Musonda said they still staged one of their best tournaments ever.
“It was probably the best tournament that we have ever hosted so far. Even the boxers performed well,” Musonda said.
“The Malawi boxers didn’t turn up because they failed to get transport since there are no buses coming to Zimbabwe and we could not fly them. We only managed to fly heavyweight boxer from Congo Brazzaville Ardi Ndembo.”
The series, which was held at the Harare Showgrounds with no spectators due to the COVID-19 restrictions, was graced by Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services minister Jenfan Muswere.
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Musonda said moving forward, the academy will continue hosting such tournaments with the next one slated for August 6.
“Our next tournament is on August 6 and the main bout will feature Zimbabwe national super bantamweight title fight between the champion Tinashe “Chairman” Madziwana from Deltaforce Boxing Academy versus Hassan “Starboy” Milanzi from Manyuchi Boxing Academy,” Musonda said.
“We are also going to add some international bouts on the day, but already we have Ardi Ndembo from
Congo Brazzaville, who is coming back in August. We will look and see if we can give him our local heavyweights or those from Malawi. It’s something we will consider in due course,” he added.
The bout card for the Saturday event included a number of titles which were up for grabs including welterweight title which saw Ardonia Abraham winning against Bernard Sinjolani, female lightweight Chiedza Homakoma accounting for Primrose Ndlovu, with the heavyweight title being grabbed by Ardi Ndembo, who clashed with Vincent Muziri over six rounds.
The tournament also saw various companies providing sponsorship, including Dalexx Logistics, Stanzee Borehole Drilling, Gypsite Electrical Engineering, Neon Event Management, International Partners Global Boxing Stars and Future Champs which have also confirmed their continual support in the next tournament.
“As we move forward, I think we will host world titles which is our aim because we need to make sure that our boxers are now able to meet international standards and recognition here in Zimbabwe,” he said.
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