Raymond Jaravaza
CITY of Kings boxing fans are in for a treat when Bulawayo Amateur Boxing Association (BABA) holds bouts for local and out of town boxers at Mpopomaa��s Mathonisa Beer Garden next weekend.
Local boxers from Bulawayoa��s eight clubs Nketa, Nkulumane, Tshaka, Lobengula, Luvevea��s Percy, HQ One Brigade, Sikhulile and Bulawayo West will battle it out in different divisions against boxers from Gwanda, Gweru and Harare.
Boxers that were selected to represent Zimbabwe in the African Union Sports Council Region Five Under-20 Youth Games will also take part in the boxing fest.
BABA secretary general Arvian Mathe said the aim of the boxing showcase was to give boxers, including the Region Five athletes, a platform to keep fit ahead of the Luanda, Angola games set for December.
In Angola, Zimbabwe will be represented in athletics, athletics for the visually impaired, basketball, boxing, judo, gymnastics, netball, swimming and tennis.
a�?All the local clubs will be represented as well as boxers from Gwanda, Gweru and Harare. Coaches for the boxers that will travel to Angola were particularly supportive of the Mpopoma boxing festival because it gives their athletes a chance to stay fit.
a�?Schools have opened so any opportunity for the school going boxers to get into the ring is welcome,a�? said Mathe.
The proprietor of Mathonisa Beer Garden Nobuhle Dube said she made the venue available for free for BABA to hold the bouts in addition to a nominal fee paid to the association to assist in organising the event.
a�?This is the third time in 2016 that we will be hosting boxing matches, ita��s a small contribution towards promoting the sport in Bulawayo,a�? said Dube.
Young local boxers Mthulisi Dube (Sikhulile), Zibusiso Nyoni (Nketa), Lwazi Mpofu (Tshaka), Bright Ndiraya (Nkulumane), Wiseman Tshuma (Lobengula) and Freedom Dube (Bulawayo West) are expected to battle it out against the visiting boxers.
