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Byo Bomber fighting van Zyl

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
SOUTH African-based Zimbabwean cage fighter Elvis Moyo is out for revenge in next month’s Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC) heavyweight title fight with Andrew van Zyl.

Moyo, whose ring name is “The Bulawayo Bomber”, was initially billed to trade leather with champion Danie van Heerden, who was, however, stripped of his title a few weeks ago for likening Moyo to an ape.

Moyo and van Heerden’s fight had been dubbed “The biggest stand-up battle in EFC history”, but he will now face van Zyl on October 15 at Sun City in Rustenburg, South Africa.

This will be Moyo’s second career fight against van Zyl, who beat him in July 2014, forcing the Zimbabwean into submission with an arm-bar.

“I’m ready for van Zyl and as much as I wanted to take the title away from Danie in the ring, now I just have to focus on the new opponent. I’m not afraid of him and over the years I’ve grown into a complete cage fighter since that 2014 defeat. I can’t let this opportunity pass as I’ve worked hard to earn an opportunity to fight for the title,” said Moyo.

The Bulawayo-born cage fighter has seven career wins from 10 cage fights.

Moyo’s victories in EFC Africa were against Sors “Guru” Grobbelaar in his debut cage fight in March 2014, Wilhelm “Tiny” Strauss in August and Didier-Kilola in November of the same year. He also beat Lance Cerenio last year in February and also handed Vandam Mbuyi a defeat in December.

The Bulawayo Bomber exploded on Ricky Misholas in June and August this year before he beat Japanese mixed martial arts veteran Kiyoshi Tamura in the fourth round in a fight staged in Tokyo.

The Bulawayo Bomber lost twice in 2014 to Brendon Groenwald and van Zyl. His third loss was last year in June when he was knocked out by Poland’s Tomasz “Kredka” Kowalkowski after just 37 seconds.

Moyo should be wary of his opponent who has 13 career wins from 16 fights, eight of which were by knockout.

“Like I said, I’ve mastered the art of cage fighting and my ground work which used to be a big challenge for me has vastly improved. He is facing a complete fighter and he won’t stop me from getting that title,” said Moyo.

@ZililoR