LAST week, Boxing News introduced the first of a new series where we take a look at countries that are yet to produce a full male world champion and the ‘national pioneers’ who are hoping to become their nation’s first.
This time around, we delve into the Savannas of Zimbabwe – a nation called home by around 16.6 million inhabitants, which borders the comparably thriving land of South Africa, given it has yet to boast a champion of its own.
Previously Rhodesia or Southern Rhodesia, whilst under British colonial rule, Zimbabwe gained independence in 1980, and the women’s field hockey team would go on to claim the Olympic gold medal in Moscow that very same year.
Since then, Zimbabwe has reached the final of the 1995 Dunhill Cup, the male football team has twice qualified for the African Cup of Nations (2004 and 2006) and the Zimbabwean cricket team has become one of just 12 full members of the ICC, meaning that they can play test cricket, although success in boxing has been limited.
At present, the standout contender from what was once considered ‘the jewel of Africa’ prior to Robert Mugabe’s presidency has been the weight-jumping Charles Manyuchi, 29-5-1 (18 KOs).
Hailing from Bulawayo, the second largest city in the country, Manyuchi debuted as a super-lightweight back in 2009 and, after two early victories, challenged for the Zimbabwean super-welterweight title just five months later, losing a 12-round decision to Mordechai Donga.
Following five professional bouts, Manyuchi’s record was a disappointing 3-2 and you could be forgiven for believing that his chance to represent Zimbabwe on the big stage was over. Yet, Manyuchi would instead embark on a phenomenal 18-fight unbeaten run.
During that time, Manyuchi won the African welterweight title, knocked out eventual world title challenger Patrick Allotey and triumphed on away soil in both Italy and Russia against Gianluca Frezza and Dmitry Mikhaylenko respectively – the latter of which saw him claim the WBC Silver welterweight strap.
Unfortunately, when on the verge of a shot at world honours, Manyuchi lost his belt in a first-round defeat to Uzbekistan’s Kudratillo Abdukakhorov in 2017 and a defeat to Magomed Kurbanov the following year all but ended any remaining glimmers of a world title opportunity down the line.
After returning to Africa and winning seven straight contests across a plethora of weight divisions, Manyuchi retired in 2023 but made a comeback last month, where he was outpointed by Libya’s Saad Fathi Saad, 6-1 (3 KOs).
Now Zimbabwean fight fans are being forced to look elsewhere to unearth their first world champion and it seems as though their greatest prospect is amongst the smaller weights, with 5’3” minimumweight contender Beaven Sibanda, 7-1 (2 KOs), aiming to live up to his nickname and become ‘The One’.
Born in the capital of Harare, Sibanda was introduced into combat sports through Karate and his dream of becoming a professional boxer and following in the footsteps of Manyuchi was shunned by his peers until he was thrust into the deep end and came out on top, he told Boxing News.
“I got into boxing when I was 15. I was doing karate by then, and I made the transition. I always wanted to box but I was always told that I was too short, until I found some boxers who were training and requested to join them.
“That very same day I was told I will fight in the next three days. I won that fight, and that was when I started pursuing my dream more.”
Sibanda would his debut in 2022 with a bizarre split-decision win in his hometown, winning and losing a shutout 40-36 decision on two contrasting scorecards but taking the remainder 40-37.
Since then, the 105-pounder has relocated to South Africa in search of better promotions, gyms and sparring partners and has teamed up with Coach Vusi at the Brian Mitchell Boxing Academy, training alongside IBO super-flyweight world champion Richard ‘Magic Man’ Malajika.
In South Africa, Sibanda has strung together six further wins to announce himself to the minimumweight division and rise in the world rankings but last month, the now-23-year-old fell short against Siyakholwa Kuse, 8-2-1 (4 KOs), in a bid for the WBC Silver at the weight, losing a majority decision to the home fighter.
Although regardless of the defeat, Sibanda remains undeterred in his goal and is fully focused on bouncing back in his next outing to deliver a ‘special’ performance.
“Honestly, I thought it [tasting defeat] would actually be bad, but I have good people around me and I’ve handled it well. I’m super motivated and I’m making the adjustments, my next fight is going to be something special.”
After declaring his clear and concise goal ‘to get strapped’ during 2025, Sibanda then reflected on what it would mean for him and his country to impress on the world stage and claim world honours, telling of the added responsibility to perform that he has placed upon his shoulders.
“[Winning a world title would have a] big impact [on Zimbabwe]. I feel like a lot of people would be invested in it and actually begin to take the sport seriously. It would also start drawing out large crowds to the fights.”
“Boxing is what I am good at, it is my income, I have to make it count by any means.”
Sibanda has no fight date as of yet but is currently ranked at #13 with the WBC, whilst Kuse sits at #3, displaying how close Sibanda would be to a world title shot had he got the nod when the pair collided last month.
