Lack of corporate support stifles boxing: Byo Bomber

“Look, despite conditions that include neglect or lack of support in our country, we do have some guys that are doing well.

“Imagine the impact that boxing stands to benefit if the few guys that have been doing well get sponsorship so that they concentrate on fighting and improve the country’s rankings. Boxing, just like soccer is a viable sport industry that needs support. If our boxers do well on the international stage, it will be easy to groom upcoming stars and get more sponsors,” said Moyo.

“What has been happening now is that it’s each man for himself. One has to find his way and stay there to try survive. Remember, if you are in a foreign country like myself, they help you survive but never build you to your full potential,” he said.

The Bulawayo Bomber, who was Dube’s sparring partner when the latter won the PanAfrica heavyweight title in 2009, said he is hurting to see Dube struggling to make ends meet.

“In a nutshell, like any other sportperson who would have made it, Zimbabwe failed Thamsanqa Dube.

“He went into that bout as an underdog to win the WBA title with the odds staked heavily against him. When he won that title, Zimbabwe should have been proud of his achievement as it had put the country strategically on boxing world map.

“There’s no country in Africa with many heavyweights; in Zimbabwe we have about two, Ghana has three or four with South Africa having about three heavyweight boxers.”

He said heavyweight boxers are prized possessions and Zimbabwe should have supported Dube by helping him get opponents.

Had Dube defended his African title about four times, Moyo believes he would have gotten a big break.

“People like the late Proud ‘ Kilimanjaro’ Chinembiri and Alfonso Zvenyika got their chances which they utilised back then because they had support from the corporate world,” Moyo said.

Kilimanjaro left a record of 32-6, including five wins over local rival Black Tiger in the heavyweight category.

He toppled Ghanaians, Zambians, Malians, Ivorians and even one American during his career.

At his peak, Kilimanjaro was ranked No 9 by the WBC when Mike Tyson was the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.

Zvenyika won the Commonwealth during his boxing days. - @ZililoR. title