Nhlanhla Mbele
Zimbabwe boxing icon, Steven Masiyambumbi has been offered an international assignment to officiate at the International Boxing Association (IBA) women’s world boxing championships.
Masiyambumbi, one of Africa’s best boxing referees, is set to travel tomorrow for the 12th edition of the championships which will take place in Istanbul, Turkey, on May 8 to 20.
Top boxers from 93 nations are expected to exchange blows and nearly 419 boxers are said to attend the competition. Boxers born between 1981 and 2002 are eligible to attend the championships.
Masiyambumbi said the invitation was quite a big achievement not only for him but for Zimbabwe as well. “Ever since I started this journey, the experience and lessons from these kinds of bouts I always try to implement at home to improve our boxing standards.
“We have a lot of talent in Zimbabwe and with such exposure I believe we will ensure the betterment of the sport of boxing in all structures that is from boxers to coaches.”
Steven obtained his three- Star refereeing and judging certificate which is the highest qualification in the world in boxing.
Last year he also got the privilege to officiate in the man’s world championships which were held in Belgrade, Serbia.
“l started the journey in 2014 after Zimbabwe hosted the Region 5 games I attended the course and I passed in 2019. l did my two-star in Botswana where l was crowned the best official in the zone.
“l have officiated in China, Serbia, Mozambique, Botswana, Lesotho, Angola, Zambia, South Africa, Tanzania and now I have been called to Turkey.”
He said although he failed to qualify for the Olympics when he was still a boxer, he relished an opportunity to officiate at the Olympic Games.
Turkey held the second edition of the Women’s World Boxing Championships in Antalya in 2002 and the event returns to the country after 20 years. The Turkish Boxing Federation was the host of the historical first edition AIBA Women’s Youth & Junior World Boxing Championships in 2011. Istanbul played host to several international boxing events, including Bosphorus International Boxing Tournament in March 2021.
