High profile boxing matches confirmed

The Herald

By Takudzwa Chitsiga

1 March 2013

THREE World Boxing Union-sanctioned matches pitting Zimbabweans against two Zambians and a Ghanaian have now been confirmed.
The fights will take place on June 29 in Harare, the WBU confirmed. Monalisa

Sibanda will take on WBU female world welterweight champion, Gift Amanua Ankrah of Ghana, while the other match will be a WBU junior lightweight world title fight between Felix Venganayi of Zimbabwe and Tom Chisanga of Zambia.

The third match will be a WBU light heavyweight world title showdown between Zimbabwe’s Wesley Mcdade and Sam Chisanga of Zambia.
Preparations for the bouts are gathering momentum as the Deltaforce Sports Trust, who manage the three local boxers, met with the new boxing board chairman, Paul Nenjerama, yesterday to discuss several issues.

David Musonda, Delta Force Sports Trust chairman, said they wanted to know when the Zimbabwe National Boxing Control Board could license them to allow the boxers to take part in the events.

“We are looking forward to hosting a big event but our problem is that there are no boxers and promoters licences yet,” said Musonda.
“The new chairman is still awaiting for a hand-over from the former board, which was led by Richard Hondo, so we sought audience with him and we are happy with the response we got from him. The chairman took our concerns into consideration and he knows that it is a great privilege to host such a high-profile event and we can not let the opportunity slip away. For us to host the event, we need clearance from the Zimbabwe National Boxing Control Board.”

Musonda also feels boxing should be considered when the funds allocated to sport are given out by the Government. “The ministry should ensure that we have a budget reserved for boxing so that the new board can have somewhere to start from. There was no secretariat for the past 31 years and we look forward to having some improvements for the sport from the new board,” said Musonda. Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister David Coltart appointed the new boxing board in January.