HE hails from Mbare, they call him “Boxing Chairman”, but he is not the award-winning Zimdancehall chanter Killer T who also goes by the same nickname.
This is Tinashe Madziwana, the Zimbabwean boxer who is making serious waves in Malawi and is hoping to be a world champion in the not-so-distant future.
“I want to be a world champion; I know I can do it because I am in the right hands. Besides, I come from Mbare, a suburb that has produced champions before,” declares the 26-year-old boxer.
Mbare is renowned for producing prize fighters like Proud “Kilimanjaro” Chinembiri, Gilbert “Giro” Josamu, United Kingdom-based former European champion Derek Chisora and Arifonso “Mosquito” Zvenyika.
On May 13 last year, Malawi’s sports and culture minister Grace Obama Chiumia had to issue a public statement conceding that the bout between that country’s Robert Kachidza and the hard-hitting Boxing Chairman was an embarrassment to her nation.
The then highly-rated Malawian bantamweight champion, Kachidza, fainted in the second round after a flurry of blows from Madziwana in a non-title match at Lilongwe Community Ground on May 10, 2015.
“It was a moment not worth reminiscing,” the Malawian minister was quoted saying.
Kachidza admitted the Zimbabwean’s superiority, and big time Malawian promoter Craig Rousseau wasted no time in signing the pugilist.
Madziwana has reeled off three more victories since joining the Blantyre-based stable, No Pain No Gain.
His most recent victory came on March 6, 2016 in the Malawian capital when he beat local boy Tinkani Kamanga on points a few weeks after pummelling another Malawian, Boniface Stennla.
There are busy times ahead.
On March 26, he faces Namibia’s former World Boxing Federation super flyweight champion Joseph “Smokey Joe” Hilongwa in an eight-round bantamweight non-title fight.
Three days later, Madziwana is scheduled to fight Tefo Letshikgwane of Botswana in a six-round bout in Gaborone.
The goal is to better his record and get a title shot.
“For now I need to work on my boxing record because some of the fights I won previously were not sent to Boxrec.
“My new team agreed that I will be fighting every month, before I go for a continental title,” said Madziwana.
According to Boxrec, the internationally acclaimed boxing records keeper, Madziwana’s last recognised fight was on March 13, 2014 when he lost to Lesley Sekotswe of Botswana in Gaborone.
The Boxing Chairman made his professional debut as a 16-year-old but a recognised international title has eluded him.
“The decision to join No Pain No Gain is paying dividends. Remember I was ring rusty when I joined but now I am getting a fight every month.
“Working with trainer Clyde Musonda has also brought a new dimension to my game.
“I have worked with various trainers including Arifonso ‘Mosquito’ Zvenyika, but I believe Musonda is the best trainer.
“I have not lost since I started working with him last year,” said Madziwana who is a strong fan and close friend of Zim dancehall star Killer T.
Musonda’s Delta Force boxing stable entered a partnership with No Pain No Gain last year in a deal that is expected to see a number of Zimbabwean boxers signing for the Malawian stable. The Zimbabwean outfit provides the training.
No Pain No Gain manager Rousseau has big plans for Madziwana.
“If he wins these upcoming fights, especially the one against Smokey Joe, then we will arrange an African title (bout).
“We are working hard to try and arrange him at least a fight every month to get him prepared,” said Rousseau.
Coincidentally, Madziwana’s last attempt at a continental title was against Hilongwa on July 30, 2011 when he lost the World Boxing Association Pan African flyweight bout in Namibia.