Rise of the Champions: A Fizzle of Disrespect, Not...

Rise of the Champions: A Fizzle of Disrespect, Not a Roar

Gilbert Munetsi

Zim Now Corresponded

The glitz and glamour promised for "Rise of the Champions 5" at the 7 Arts Theatre evaporated like cheap beer foam, leaving behind a bitter aftertaste of organizational chaos and blatant disregard for key stakeholders. What was billed as a resurgence for Zimbabwean boxing instead delivered a stark reminder of the sport's persistent struggles with professionalism.

The scene was set: bright lights, roaring anticipation, and a crowd predominantly hailing from the affluent suburbs of Avondale and Borrowdale. But beneath the veneer of excitement, a disturbing reality unfolded. The Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Zimbabwe National Boxing and Wrestling Control Board, the very governing body meant to oversee the event, was relegated to the indignity of standing through part of the evening. A stark, silent testament to the evening's disarray.

This wasn't a mere oversight. This was a deliberate snub, a slap in the face to the very authority responsible for the sport's regulation. Three stakeholder meetings, intended to foster understanding and respect, now seemed like empty rhetoric, a cruel joke played on those who dared to believe in the potential of Zimbabwean boxing.

The chaos didn't stop there. Journalists, the eyes and ears of the sporting world, were treated with equal disdain. Ring-side seats, traditionally reserved for ministerial officials, board members, and the media, were usurped by paying spectators. Reporters, relegated to the back of the venue, strained to catch a glimpse of the action, their professional integrity compromised by the sheer incompetence of the organizers.

"Seventy-five percent of the spectatorship, mainly drawn from the white community...would be asked to take seats occupied by...journalists," a source revealed, painting a picture of pandemonium. The atmosphere, instead of crackling with the energy of a championship event, simmered with resentment and confusion.

The irony was palpable. While the organizers had poured substantial effort into hyping the fights, the fundamental aspects of event management were utterly neglected. The lack of designated spaces for crucial stakeholders, a standard practice in football stadia and other venues, revealed a shocking disregard for protocol and professionalism.

The question now hangs heavy in the air: will the Zimbabwean boxing authorities finally grasp the importance of respecting key stakeholders? Will they learn from this debacle, or will "Rise of the Champions 5" be remembered as a night where the froth of hype masked the bitter taste of organizational failure?