Dube, Mpofu to fight in Independence bout

trevor mpofuRicky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE heavyweight champion Thamsanqa Dube’s elimination fight against unheralded Trevor Mpofu which had been set for next month, has been moved to April.

The two Bulawayo pugilists will now trade leather at the Independence Solidarity Boxing Challenge in Harare that will also have foreign boxers participating.

Clyde Musonda, a promoter based in the capital said the winner of the April 25 fight between Dube and Mpofu at the Harare Showgrounds will face World Boxing Federation African heavyweight champion Elvis “Bulawayo Bomber” in June.

He said they are sending Dube and Mpofu their fight contracts so that they study them and make necessary adjustments if need be.

“We’ve stepped up our preparations for that fight (Dube v Mpofu) and it has even attracted interest from other potential partners who advised us that for them to come on board, they would like the bill to be staged in April. We have agreed to stage the Independence Solidarity Boxing Challenge on April 25 and we are courting the government through the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture so that we stage a big and memorable competition,” said Musonda.

The postponement of the bill from March 28 to April 25 is a blessing in disguise for both Dube and Mpofu as it gives them ample time to prepare for the fight.

Dube, 32, and 10 years older than Mpofu last fought in 2011 when he was floored by Flo Simba in a non-title contest in South Africa. He has been unable to get a challenger, getting promises along the way only for his opponents to pull out in the last minute.

The “Baby Elephant” as Dube is affectionately known, said he is getting back to shape and has lost a significant amount of weight.

“I’ve been doing lots of running at work outs at the Tshaka Youth Centre gym under my trainer Philip ‘Striker’ Ndlovu. I’m just above 140kgs and I think I can lose at least 10 more kilos by the end of April,” Dube said.

Mpofu, standing at 1.98m, now weighs 94kgs and is adamant that he’ll spring a shocker on Dube who he did sparring with in 2013.

“Like I said before, I’m fit and don’t have fat on me. Thamu is fat and that is why he is that big. The good thing about the promoters postponing the fight gives me time to adequately prepare,” Mpofu said.

Just like Dube, Mpofu trains under Ndlovu at Tshaka Youth Centre.

Ndlovu said on the day of the fight he won’t be at the corner of any of the two boxers and will watch from the stands.

“We share lots of memories with Thamu and when he asked to come and train at my gym, I welcomed him back. Trevor trains in the morning while Thamu comes in the evening to work out. I enjoy working with both boxers and I’m also curious to see who will win in April,” said Ndlovu.

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