HARARE —
Zimbabwe’s top female boxer Monalisa Sibanda has been offered a crack at the Africa Boxing Union light welterweight title.
Monalisa, a Christian of the Johanne Masowe Apostolic sect, has been offered another chance to win a recognized international title when she takes on Gift Amuana Ankara of Ghana for the title in Accra on August 31.
This follows her failure last year to win the Women’s International Boxing Association and the Women’s International Boxing Organisation titles against Zambia’s Esther Phiri.
She was knocked out in the seventh round forcing her to go down the rankings to fight for the African title.
However, Monalisa still stands another chance of challenging for the world titles which Phiri still holds should she win the Africa championship.
Although she is confident of bringing the African title home, Monalisa is not looking down upon Ankara whom she rates highly
Monalisa’s manager Boris Zneider says the boxer will be travelling for further training in South Africa where there are better facilities and equipment.
Monalisa is still undefeated in Zimbabwe but has been deprived of international fights due to the lack of promoters who can bankroll such a venture.
Since the departure of the now retired Elsie Sharte for South Africa, Monalisa has been Zimbabwe’s flag bearer in women’s international boxing but has always complained of lack of financial support.
She has a busy schedule trying to juggle her boxing activities and her other role as a housewife as well as her church activities in the Johanne Masowe Apostolic Faith sect where she is known as Madzimai Marytious.
She says she is managing all the three roles well with the support of her husband Madzibaba Simon Tinofireyi, who is the leader of the Johanne Masowe sect in the suburb of Kuwadzana in Harare.
Monalisa, a Christian of the Johanne Masowe Apostolic sect, has been offered another chance to win a recognized international title when she takes on Gift Amuana Ankara of Ghana for the title in Accra on August 31.
This follows her failure last year to win the Women’s International Boxing Association and the Women’s International Boxing Organisation titles against Zambia’s Esther Phiri.
She was knocked out in the seventh round forcing her to go down the rankings to fight for the African title.
However, Monalisa still stands another chance of challenging for the world titles which Phiri still holds should she win the Africa championship.
Although she is confident of bringing the African title home, Monalisa is not looking down upon Ankara whom she rates highly
Monalisa’s manager Boris Zneider says the boxer will be travelling for further training in South Africa where there are better facilities and equipment.
Monalisa is still undefeated in Zimbabwe but has been deprived of international fights due to the lack of promoters who can bankroll such a venture.
Since the departure of the now retired Elsie Sharte for South Africa, Monalisa has been Zimbabwe’s flag bearer in women’s international boxing but has always complained of lack of financial support.
She has a busy schedule trying to juggle her boxing activities and her other role as a housewife as well as her church activities in the Johanne Masowe Apostolic Faith sect where she is known as Madzimai Marytious.
She says she is managing all the three roles well with the support of her husband Madzibaba Simon Tinofireyi, who is the leader of the Johanne Masowe sect in the suburb of Kuwadzana in Harare.