Tanzanian boxer jets in for WBF inter-continental ...

Tanzanian boxer jets in for WBF inter-continental contest

Gilbert Munetsi

Zim Now Correspondent

Tanzanian boxer Sadiki Momba arrived in the country on Tuesday afternoon ahead of his World Boxing Federation inter-continental super-featherweight contest against Zimbabwean Tatenda "Signature" Biningu at 7 Arts Theatre in Avondale on Saturday night.

Speaking via his trainer Emmanuel Mulundwa as translator upon touch down, Momba, 35, predicted his opponent would kiss the canvass several times when they take to the ring on Saturday night.

"I’m a seasoned fighter with lots of exposure. Add to that the magnificent weather in Harare to which I need no acclimatisation, and l have all odds stacked in my favour," Momba said.

Bragging of an impressive W29 (KO14) - L10 - D3 record, the Momba has a world ranking of 576 out of 1 874 boxers in his division. His stance is orthodox.

He has also travelled extensively, having fought in countries that include Namibia, Thailand and Russia.

Debuting way back in 2008, his experience has seen him take on world champions in the league of Paulous Moses who, at one time, was the face of boxing in Namibia.

Mulundwa who was a boxer of note in his day, is making his second working visit to Harare. In his first trip he fought late former African Boxing Union bantamweight champion Stix McCloud and lost to the Zimbabwean on points.

From the opponent’s corner, Charles Manyuchi Boxing Academy director Charles Manyuchi, has said his boxer, Biningu, continues to sleep soundly as his camp has done enough homework to warrant a positive result.

"It is a fact that to be the best, we ought to fight the best. We have left no stone unturned in preparing for Biningu's biggest fight' to date.

"We believe matches are not won in the ring but at training and we have lived to that motto," he said.

Promoted by the CMBA and bankrolled by Betterbrands Petroleum with the support of Concorde, the Momba-Biningu bout is the main draw card whose fixture has eight other contests.

It is the fourth of the Grand Finale series originated by Manyuchi as a way to bid bye to his supporters scattered around the country.

Coincidentally, the two-men Tanzanian delegation landed at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport at the stroke of midday aboard an Air Tanzania flight on which Minister Ezra Chadzamira was also on board.

Chadzamira is the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs for Masvingo where Manyuchi and his academy are based.

The Minister praised Manyuchi for using his role model status to uplift the lives of young boxers, reckoning sport is an industry that has benefitted a lot of people worldwide.

"As Masvingo we are playing our part with the hope of giving especially the young men and women a livelihood through it (sport).

"It is my fervent hope that we will emerge victorious in all the bouts lined up and when all has been said and done, we will pop champaign back home in Masvingo."

Present to welcome the Tanzanians were girls from Concorde whose representative Phyllis Makomo called on boxing followers to attend the event in large numbers to boost the morale of local boxers.

There are other fighters expected in the country from Uganda, Malawi and Zambia.

According to an itinerary availed by the organisers, the WBF delegation, headed by its Africa president Howard Goldberg, arrives in Harare today evening.