‘Signature’s date with destiny against ‘The Beast’

Gilbert Munetsi

Zim Now Correspondent

Rising boxing prodigy Tatenda “Signature” Biningu tomorrow subjects himself to his biggest litmus test ever when he fights Namibia’s Mateus “The Beast’ Heita (12-0-0) in a World Boxing Organisation featherweight contest at the Country Club in Windhoek.

The duel is the main supporting bout of the WBO-Africa Super-middleweight match between Namibian Paulinus Ndjolonimus and Abubakar Mubarak of Ghana on a 12-bout card being promoted by Nestor Tobias of MTC Sunshine Boxing.

Dubbed ‘Your Vote Counts’, Tobias told Zim Now from Namibia yesterday that the boxing showcase is aimed at encouraging the Namibian populace to go and cast their vote in the upcoming general elections scheduled for November 27.

“We’re honoured to be able to celebrate Namibia’s democracy through boxing, and we hope that everyone will come out to support our champions and cast their votes on election day.

“We believe this event will not only showcase the best of Namibian boxing, but also highlight the importance of democracy and the right to vote in our country,” he said.

Other Zimbabweans fighting in the same event are Freeman Mabvongwe who faces Immanuel Mungadjela over six rounds in the welterweight division; Tafadzwa Mushando v Jeremia Nakathila (lightweight) and Anele Bafana who does battle with Naftalie Shoola in a non-title heavyweight duel over a distance of 4 rounds.

But all eyes are on Biningu of the Charles Manyuchi Academy who is in the Namibian capital in the company of his promoter/manager, Prosper Chibaya, for an assignment that could clearly define his boxing destiny going forward.

Floating on cloud nine after a fruitful year in which he has posted three consecutive victories against Zambian and Malawian adversaries, “Signature” gets the first opportunity tomorrow night to fight for a springboard title that has the potential to take him to the global arena.

As much as Biningu (10; KO7-1-0) may brag about a couple of other championships he already has in the bag, what separates the WBO from them all is the fact that this is an exclusive membership club for the ‘big boys.’ WBO is acknowledged by the International Boxing Hall of Fame as one of four major championship groups, the others being the World Boxing Council, World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation.

In football, it can be equated to such elite leagues as the EPL, La Liga or Bundesliga.

Since a faulty take-off in his professional debut fight in March 2019 in which he lost to Tatenda Majoni, ‘Signature’ has thereafter been on a roll, winning all the nine succeeding fights, seven of them by way of knockout.

And no newcomer to foreign competition, seven of his opponents have been non-Zimbabweans, earning him a respectable 148th position out of 1 920 super-featherweights in the world.

In the recently-released ratings by the African Boxing Union, the boxer is ranked Number 9 in the lightweight division on the continent while his opponent for tomorrow, “The Beast” seats on Number 2 in the super-bantamweight. Domestically, the only other two pugilists who have earned slots in the ABU ratings are Charles Manyuchi and Beaven Sibanda.

Should Biningu emerge victorious tomorrow night, he joins compatriots Tinei ‘Mastark Power’ Maridzo, Peter ‘Sniper’ Pambeni and Brendon ‘Boika’ Denese to have won a WBO strap.