Bulawayo– Reigning champion in the fly weight division, Trade Nkomozabo successfully defended his title, while Bongani Makovama became the new bantam weight champion at the ZBF National Boxing Championships held at Sizinda South Beer Garden last Saturday.
Nkomazabo (Masvingo) beat Trymore Nyapfidza (Harare) to retain his belt in the fly weight division, while Makovama (Masvingo) outsmarted Allan Shuma to claim the bantam weight division.
The Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correction Services (ZPCS) and Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) and other boxers from all the provinces participated at the national competition.
Sidney Baloyi (ZNA) claimed the light weight division championship, while Thomas Jojo (ZNA) lifted the light welter belt after beating Mollen Hunda representing Bulawayo.
In the welter weight division, Admire Moyo (ZNA) became the champion, while Simbarashe Gwatirinda (Masvingo) claimed the middle weight title.
Tashinga Manyika (ZNA) became the victor in the heavy weight managing to retain his title in the category, while Caroline Dube successfully defended her title as the middle weight champion in the female category.
ZBF Technical Director, Steven Masiyambumbi, said the event was highly represented by pugilists from all the provinces who exhibited high quality skills.
“The tournament was very successful as we had a higher representation of the provinces at the tournament. The pugilists exhibited exciting and exhilarating matches and we finally managed to have our national champions for this year, that will be representing the country at the all Africa games,” Masiyambumbi said.
“Due to the high attendance from the boxers, we ended having a single category, which was for the elite boxers,” he said.