Over the weekend the Rose of Qumbu was born in the small Town of Qumbu in the Eastern Cape. Qumbu is where the Cape Town based Mzonke Fana was born about 4 decades ago but returned this weekend after a 20 year career in Cape Town. Mzonke Fana defended his WBA Intercontinental title with a scintillating 2nd round knockout of Themba Shicila in Qumbu, Eastern Cape. The bill became the first ever professional boxing tournament in the home town of Mzonke Fana. It also became the first ever fight Mzonke fought in his home town after 20 years conquering the world. This was a perfect resuscitation for Fana’s career, whom many Boxing experts have written off many times before. His South African many title defences were a clear indication that many camps did not fear him especially in the Mecca of Boxing in South Africa.
Mzonke posing with his title, flanked by his young corner. From right Simphiwe Tom, Felix Venganayi and Tapiwa Tembo.
An interesting fact is that MzonkeFana had in his corner Felix Vengenayi, whom Themba Shicila last fought last year. With a fairly young corner, averaged 65 years between the two corner men, Mzonke represented hunger and speed on the day and wasted no time to earn a knockout victory. We know in boxing circles an average age is usually 100 years or more. So another history was written on the day when Fana brought to his corner two current active boxers in, Felix Venganayi and Simphiwe Tom. Ironically, Fana, who turned professional in 1994, should have been the corner man in both Youngman’s corners as they are younger than him. Due to his high work rate and good living habits outside the ring, he is the one who is still going strong at the age of 40.
This was an epic rise from the ashes of a career that was discovered and polished by a veteran Zola Koti in the Luvuyo boxing Gym. Currently, Fana is working closely with younger trainers and looks like his career is far from finished. Fana’s record now stands at 40 fights, 33 Wins, 14 KO and 7 loses, while on the other end Shicila’s one is at 41 fights, 26 Wins, 7 KO , 3 draws and 12 loses . This may be the call for retirement for Shicila, who started his boxing career in 1997, fighting as the most promising prospect. Many people feel that Shicila has not reached his true potential. He has challenged for the South African title a record 5 times and fell short on all occasions.
The month of May will be another Boxing month as we have roughly up to 6 Western Cape Boxers who are participating in various world title fights. These boxers are Mzuvukile Magwaca, Luyanda Nkwankwa, Tapiwa Tembo and Lwandile Gugushe.
