Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter*
South Africa-based Zimbabwean pugilist and former World Boxing Federation (WBF) Africa heavyweight champion Elvis Moyo is ready to trade leather with Nigeria’s Akeem Tijani in the Namibian coastal city of Swakopmund in tonight’s non-title bout.
Moyo, whose stage name is Bulawayo Bomber, returns to the boxing ring after a four-year absence, having been banned from boxing in South Africa in 2014 for competing as an MMA athlete.
The Bulawayo Bomber last boxed in November 2013 against Osbourne Machimana in a WBF African heavyweight title fight in Cape Town.
Moyo arrived in Namibia on Wednesday and immediately went for his weigh-in.
The Zimbabwean boxer, who is using the Namibia fight as part of his preparations for next month’s WBF Africa heavyweight title bout against Bernard Adi of Kenya on August 25 in Harare, said he is confident of knocking out Tijani.
“I’m super excited that finally I’m doing what I love most. I’m ready for the fight and I feel that I’m going to knock out Tijani. My opponent looks too tiny, but at least he got the heart to step in and face me. He reminds me of my first days in heavyweight when I weighed 82kgs. I’m really excited and looking forward to the fight,” Moyo said.
The tournament, dubbed ‘Desert Storm’, will feature eight fights, two championship bouts featuring boxers from Nigeria, South Africa, Cameroon, DRC, Tanzania and Namibia.
The main fight of the evening will be an International Boxing Federation (IBF) Africa junior lightweight title bout between Swakopmund fighter Albinius ‘Danny Boy’ Felesianu and Tanzania’s Yonas Segu.
Local boxer Abraham Ndauendapo will trade leather with South African Nkosinathi Ntshangase for the WBF Africa super featherweight title.
Moyo goes into tonight’s fight smarting from an Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC) defeat by British fighter Stuart Austin at Sun City in Rustenburg on July 8.
According to BoxRec.Com, Moyo has four wins from 11 boxing bouts.
His victories were against Kali Kalembe and Stephen Castle at Emperor’s Palace in 2011, Justice Silinga (2012) and Machimana in November 2013.
Moyo has lost five times to Danie Venter, Joseph Chingangu, Flo Simba and Ilunga Makaba, who knocked him out twice in 2008 and 2010.
Moyo’s draws were against Machimana at the beginning of last year and Jonny Muller in 2010.
South African-based Kalakoda Promotions are also organising the Harare bill that will have eight supporting bouts.
Kalakoda Promotions are working with Kwese TV in organising monthly boxing fights in different countries. The Chronicle
