The Sunday News
Lovemore Dube
THIS week in our Yesteryear Greats column international boxing fight official Patrick Mukondiwa takes us through a list of his best boxers from Zimbabwe.
Mukondiwa joined the sport in 1997 as a judge and would raise his stock over the years to join Richard Hondo as the only internationally rated fight referee from Zimbabwe.
The respected official returned from Zimbabwe on Monday after taking charge of two World Boxing Organisation title fights in Namibia.
Mukondiwa also served as boxing board secretary.
In the bantamweight division Mukondiwa has the pair of Freddie Sauti and Peter Pambeni.
“These were very outstanding boxers,” said the former boxing board head of secretariat.
Pambeni was national champion and at one stage held an African belt. Identified in Epworth at the turn of the century, the pugilist quickly established himself in the lighter weights filling a void left by the retiring Nokuthula Tshabangu and Arifonso Zvenyika.
He was spoilt for choice in the welterweight division where Zimbabwe has had some outstanding boxers over the last two decades.
“In this weight division I would mention Charles Manyuchi, Mordecai Donga and Takudzwa Kuchocha,” said Mukondiwa.
Manyuchi rose to be national and international champion. He has been the country’s most outstanding boxer on the international scene.
Donga held the middleweight titles as well and is remembered for his demolition of Ambrose Mlilo, a knockout decision at Stay Afrique that will go down as one of the most anticipated fights in Bulawayo when it eventually took place in 2004.
The fight caused Mlilo to retire from boxing after dominating that weight division from 1991.
Kuchocha was a brilliant boxer who had all the attributes of a great boxer and was a permanent feature for many promoters as he gave value to fans and promoters.
Middleweight boxer Godfrey Musiiwa did well too to impress Mukondiwa and sneak into his top 10 Zimbabwe best boxers.
He had room for former cruiserweight champion Hastings Rasani. What a boxer! He had great footwork, defence skills, a hard jab and flair and always entertained wherever he fought.
Before his move to the UK in 2002, Rasani was always a crowd favourite and had acquitted himself well against the likes of Gibson Mapfumo, Sipho Moyo, Ambrose Mlilo and Arigoma Chiponda. He looked destined for the stars but fate or greed would strike when he landed in the United Kingdom.
He tarnished the good record he had built at home by being used as punchbag for heavyweights who were turning professional. At one stage he had clocked 55 losses in the UK until age took its toll on him.
In the heavier weights he was probably the best pound for pound boxer in Zimbabwe.
He also had room for short-lived heavyweight boxer Gilbert James, former World Boxing Association (Africa) champion Thamsanqa Dube.
Another former international who made it to his list is Tineyi Maridzo a former continental champion in the super middleweight.
“Maridzo picked up later, he impressed me as well,” said Mukondiwa.
He described the boxing tournaments organised by football administrator Brian Moyo, the late Dumisani Mabhena and Omega Sibanda as the best.
“Let me be very honest, New Windermere and Reynolds Inn (Stay Afrique) tournaments were the best. I enjoyed them more than any held anywhere in the country,” said Mukondiwa.
He remains hopeful that boxing will pick up in popularity.
