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Thupeyo Muleya in Beitbridge
FORMER heavyweight boxer John Mutema, better known as “Bonyongo the Destroyer”, has died. He was 61. Bonyongo died in the early hours of yesterday after suffering a stroke at his Dulibadzimu home in Beitbridge.

Bonyongo was the last man to fight former Zimbabwe and All-Africa heavyweight boxing champion Proud “Kilimanjaro” Chinembiri before the Man Mountain’s death in 1994.

He lost the bout to Kilimanjaro at Ascot Stadium in Gweru in a technicality after developing a serious cut on the upper side of his left eye.

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Bonyongo quit boxing in 1999 as there were no heavyweight boxers willing to challenge him.

Family spokesperson and elder sister Hilda Mutema said her brother suffered a stroke in the early hours of Thursday and was rushed to Beitbridge District Hospital where he later died.

“Our hearts are heavy with grief and we will sadly miss him. He was a hard working man, who loved his family and was a darling of many people that loved the sport of boxing. He had a strong passion for the sport,” Hilda said.

Hilda said Bonyongo was born in Chipinge in a family of three, and was the only son of the late Chief Mutema.

Bonyongo did his primary education at St John’s School before completing his secondary education at Elam Mission in Katerere, Nyanga, before moving to Masvingo in 1971 where he got his first job at Chevron Hotel.

He kept training alone and used homemade weights, punching bags and made a makeshift gym for himself. He was then spotted by a South African businessman Rex Denga, who bought boxing equipment for him. He kept on fighting for fun with his old mates in Masvingo during his off-days.

Bonyongo became a professional boxer in 1982 and was invited by the Zimbabwe National Army to fight their number one boxer known as Danger Masvingo at Chevron in the same year and knocked him down in the second round. Danger demanded a rematch and was beaten again in the second round.

In the late 1980s, Bonyongo was ranked Zimbabwe’s number one contender for the heavyweight crown after beating Black Tiger of Bulawayo. Between 1982 and 1991, Bonyongo had 11 fights, winning eight and losing three.

At the time of his death, Bonyongo was a cattle farmer and had a bottle store in Beitbridge.

Burial arrangements will be announced in due course and mourners are gathered at number 1123 Dulibadzimu suburb in the border town.

Bonyongo is survived by wife Sithandazile, eight children and five grandchildren.