“Queen Tiger” In Decisive Match Against “The Massa...

“Queen Tiger” In Decisive Match Against “The Massacre” In Contest With All The Makings Of A Thriller

Chiedza “Queen Tiger” Homakoma weighs in at Durban Casino today

Gilbert Munetsi

The last female boxer to hold Zimbabwe’s lightweight title, Chiedza “Queen Tiger” Homakoma, this Wednesday November 15, weighed in ahead of her non-title duel against Malawi’s Anisha “The Massacre” Basheel and both were in weight.

Homakoma, who has since relocated to Bloemfontein, SA, faces the former African Boxing Union, Commonwealth and World Boxing Council international champion at the Durban Casino today in a six-round contest.

“The Queen Tiger” back in 2018 surprised previous national title holder, Monalisa Sibanda, by knocking her out in the second of a 10-rounder at the City Sports Centre, becoming the incumbent champion. The championship is yet to be challenged for.

She is the only boxer of Zimbabwean origin on a Walt Disney Company Africa-ESPN boxing card, whose headline bout is a Junior welterweight title match between Xolisani Ndongeni and Apinun Khongsong.

Other bouts are between Mduduzi Mzimela and Sanele Maduna (KZN Junior featherweight title); Ludumo Lamati v Mark-Anthony Geraldo (featherweight); Andile Mntungwa v Tristan Truter (super-middleweight) and Donjuan van Heerden v Giresse Wingui (middleweight).

Homakoma told Zim Now she will adopt a cautious approach going into the fight, given her opponent’s experience and height advantage.

“I know she will attempt to keep me at a distance because she has the advantage of reach owing to height, but my team and I have a strategy to ensure I score maximum points and triumph.

“I bring into the fight good measures of confidence following my last victory here in SA and the aim is to keep a good record that will make it possible for me to also challenge for titles,” she said. She said she does not read much into her 27/141 world rating compared to Basheel’s 14th placing.

A month after her setting a new base in South Africa, Homakoma fought Kholosa Ndobayini in September and posted victory to take her tally to W6 (KO4); L3; D1.

Showcasing a diverse range of the continent's boxing talent and sanctioned by Boxing South Africa (BSA), ESPN Africa Boxing events take place on the last (or second last) Thursday of every month. The fights are broadcast live on ESPN Africa (DStv 218, Starsat 248) as well as several broadcast partners across the globe.

With five main fights per event, and two undercard bouts on each bill, ESPN Africa Boxing showcases the best of boxing talent from across the continent. In addition, at least one all-female bout is included per event in order to help grow the sport and provide aspiring young female boxers with a platform.

Meanwhile, Hassan “Starboy” Milanzi, who returned home last Friday after spending close to three weeks waiting for his purse in Namibia, said he is yet to receive the money following his decision to depart that country without it owing to home-sickness.

“I made arrangements with someone there (in Windhoek) to receive the money on my behalf and, hopefully, it will be forwarded to me soon,” he said.

Milanzi was challenging WBO/WBA champion Mateus Heita for the super-bantamweight title and he lost in the sixth round by TKO.

Traditionally, a boxer is given their money soon after the fight and it could not be ascertained what caused the delay on the part of the “Together As One part 8” promoter Nestor Tobias of Sunshine Boxing who on Tuesday, November 14, was singing a different tune. He said in a statement:

“We would like to categorically confirm that all the visiting boxers were paid. We would also like to categorically state that no foreign boxer was ever stranded in Namibia and having to beg for their money.

“We do, however, acknowledge that there has been a slight delay in processing payment, which is totally acceptable practice in boxing where visiting boxers would get paid via wire transfer after the fight, with anything between one and two weeks after the fight, depending on what was agreed upfront.

“In this case, the boxers opted to leave with their money in cash, and we gave them the option to either wait or fly back to their countries and receive the money in their accounts. As stated, this practice is totally normal.”

“No visiting boxer to Namibia will ever be mistreated in any way, and that is why Namibia has become Africa's capital of boxing, welcoming boxers of across the African continent and the world, and selling the country as a preferred holiday destination,” said Tobias.