Kanyata Battles It Out With Zim’s Madziwana

28 May 2011

Zambia’s sensational boxer Kennedy Kanyanta today squares off with Zimbabwean Tinashe Madziwana in an international non-title fight on the Oriental Quarries Boxing Promotions (OQBP) bill at the National Sports Development Centre (NASDEC) in Lusaka.

Kanyanta, the reigning Africa Boxing Union (ABU) bantamweight champion and arguably the current best pound for pound boxer in the country, is among eight other pugilists who will enter the ring to slug it out.

Kanyanta downplayed his opponent’s optimism that his mission to Zambia was to shut him up, saying he would not listen to the Zimbabwean journeyman and will instead do his talking in the ring.

“This is an important fight for me because I have been saying that I want to clear everyone out of my way before I can realize my dream of becoming a world champion,” the Mufulira boxer said in high anticipation.

â-¨The 2002 Commonwealth gold medalist is renowned for his comic way of dropping his guard and let the opponent seek him out before he unleashing quick and hard punches and the Zimbabwean must be careful not to over commit himself.

“I have come to Zambia to beat Kanyanta by a knock out, I have seen him fight but he is not good enough to beat me. He is a good fighter yes….but I know how best I will knock him down,” the pint-sized Madziwana said on arrival.

Madziwana more than blew his trumpet on arrival when proclaimed that he would pound Kanyanta but does the soft spoken Zimbabwean know that his verbal assault might have invited a merciless assault on his poor self.

OQBP director of operations Chris Malunga hailed the Zimbabwean, saying he had the heart of a lion and did not give up easily making the match up an even more interesting for the expectant fans.

â-¨Another interesting fight will be between Pethias Kambembe and Charles Misanjo of Malawi who will clash in an equally non title welterweight fight.

â-¨Kambembe has been rebuilding his career quietly from the time he lost his bid to challenge for the World Boxing Council (WBC) Africa welterweight title after his defeat to Mohammed Saad of Morocco last year.

â-¨ The lanky Kambembe should be wary of Misanjo who said during the weigh-in that he was expecting nothing short of a win after covering so many miles from his native Malawi.

In another bantamweight non title fight Jabson Adams also from Malawi comes up against Gibon ‘The computer” Kamota who despite being relatively new in the professional ranks is getting revving reviews.

â-¨Zimbabwe’s Diana Makumbe will take on Zambian Rhoda Mushukano in the only bout that involves women.â-¨â-¨Malunga declared that all was in place for the tournament and urged the fans to troop to NASDEC to watch what he called the best ever staged boxing bananza.

â-¨Malunga thanked Oriental Quarries and other companies that have contributed towards the staging of the tournament.

The match officials for the event are Malawian, Lonzoe Zimba and Patrick Mukondowa from Zimbabwe.

AllAfrica – All the Time