“The Terminator” Graces Launch Of Planned World Boxing Event

“The Terminator” Graces Launch Of Planned World Boxing Event

By Gilbert Munetsi

Former eight time boxing world champion in two weight divisions – Harry Simon – is in the country to help market the August-slated Zim World Boxing Show, Nhau has established.

The visit comes amid speculation that he may be part of the bill that features three sons of former world champions.

These are Floyd Mayweather’s brother, Justin, Seb Eubank and Kenzie Morrison the son of Rocky V movie star, Tommy Lee.

In a career that spans three decades, Simon was in 1998 the first world champion in post independent Namibia, claiming first the junior middleweight title (he defended it a record five times) and after relinquishing it in 2002, he challenged for the vacant middleweight which he won twice.

Should things pan out according to plans, he will fight on the same Harare card with his son, Harry Jnr (13-0).

Indications are that once the promoters give the green light, Simon will face Dingaan “The Rose of Soweto” Thobela who is a three-time world champion.

Dubbed Zim World Boxing Show, the five-star boxing fiesta – whose platinum sponsor is RTG through their subsidiary, Gateway Stream – will be held at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC) mid-August.

 “The Terminator” (as Simon is fondly known) flew into the country on Wednesday, courtesy of US-promoter Lion Heart Boxing Productions, to a press conference and a launch ceremony that culminated in a road show.

For the latter, a number of Zimbabwean fighters went on board a new fleet of safari vehicles purchased by RTG while parading their respective title belts.

Among them were WBO-Africa and WBF champion Brendon “Boika” Denese and reigning WIBA international female champion, Monalisa Sibanda.

Simon, who has the longest unbeaten record that lasted 27 years, is rated one of the top five boxers out of the African continent among the likes of Azuma Nelson of Ghana and South African Brian Mitchell.

RTG Chief Executive Officer, Tendai Madziwanyika, told Nhau that they had forged a long-term working relationship with Lionheart that may see regular boxing events held at the gigantic HICC.

There are arrangements through the American partner to have the fights streamed in 175 homes across the globe through the various partnerships that Lionheart enjoys.

The unique boxing project has the full blessings of the sport’s regulatory authority, the Zimbabwe National Boxing and Wrestling Control Board and a local company, Monkey Safaris, is the local partner.

A number of other companies have joined a list of corporates that have shown a keen interest in bankrolling the event and among these are Eat ‘n’ Lick, Heritage Expeditions Africa, Createvent and Edgars. Nhau/Indaba