3 local boxers land pre-title bouts

A window of opportunity has opened for three local top professional boxers—Mussa Ajibu, Wilson ‘Shasha’ Masamba and Alick Mwenda—who have landed international pre-title bouts next Friday in Harare, Zimbabwe.

The trio will be involved in a boxing feast of epic proportions dubbed ‘Harare’geddon’ which will showcase some of the best fighters from across the continent and will be staged at Rainbow Towers Conference Centre.

According to a communique from the organisers Kalakoda Promotions and Kwesé Sport, Ajibu will face Ilunga Makabu Jnr from DR Congo in an eight-round cruiserweight bout while Masamba will take to the ring against Zimbabwean Lawrence Moyo (eight rounds) in the light welterweight category.

Mwenda will face another Zimbabwean Nicola Mutondara in a six-round super middleweight bout.

Masamba, whose official record on Boxrec stands at 28 wins (10 knockouts) and 10 losses (three knockouts), said the bout gives him a rare chance to qualify for a title bout.

“If I win this one then I will qualify to challenge for a WBF title bout and I can’t let such an opportunity to slip through my fingers.

“I have already stepped up my preparations for the bout,” he said.

The event also includes five other action-packed match-ups, including WBF Africa heavyweight title bout (10 rounds) between Zimbabwean Elvis Moyo and Bernard Adie from Kenya which will be the main bout.

The other title bout will feature Zimbabwean Sting Gonarenda and Kamanji Ramadan who will tussle for the WBF Africa cruiserweight belt.

“The event is shaping up to be something special; it’s been a while since Zimbabwean fight fans have witnessed a boxing event of this magnitude,” Kalakoda Promotions marketing director Jeremy Bean was quoted as sa saying.

“The Rainbow Towers Conference Centre is a spectacular venue; we have the bill, the venue and the right partnerships in place, and discussions are already underway to make this a regular item on the Harare sporting calendar.” n