Previously the title had been held by Australian Dexter Dunworth who quit the ring in 2008 at the age of 53.
Knocking at the door of this elite group of boxers is Zimbabwe’s granddaddy of boxing Arigoma Mayero Chiponda.
At 53, with his clean shaven face and neatly cropped hair, the man that veteran sports commentator Charles “CNN” Mabika nicknamed “The Master Blaster” after seeing him destroy Kid Power on August 25 1990, is still going strong.
Chiponda, who like Ward, also had a long amateur career before turning professional, still feels as energetic as he was 35 years ago when he first trotted into the vicious world of boxing as an amateur in Mabvuku, in spite of his failure to win back his heavyweight title from Thamsanqa Dube.
“I do not feel anything with regards to age my brother. I still feel the same way I felt many years ago when I started boxing. I am still good at the road run as well as in the gym,” said Chiponda who turned professional in 1990.
“Boxing is my life and it lives within me. I think I can go for another four years. What I hate about the sport are the promoters (names supplied) who keep reaping boxers off their benefits. That is why I briefly retired in 2005, but decided to come back in 2010.”
But at his age and with the beatings that have followed the former national heavyweight champion since his comeback last year, is it not time to call it quits?
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“Look at me my brother,” he said with a chuckle offering me a handshake in his huge palm, which engulfed my smaller one.
“I am still as fit as a fiddle and can take on any youngster in the country and that includes Thamsanqa Dube. That young man is not an honest boxer. Dube is not used to winning fairly so he head-butted me when he realised that I was winning the contest,” he said.
“A certain businessman had offered R10 000 just before the fight to anyone who was to win the match so the youngster had to do everything to win.“I have so much respect for the sport and would never do anything that goes against boxing even if it means losing money.”
Watching him train at his Arigoma Chiponda Gym in St Mary’s in Chitungwiza, the man shows great passion for the sport.
The inscription at his gym that says; “Powerhouse boxers motto. Do or die. Dedication, Discipline, Fitness = Greatness” seems to reassert his beliefs. What is Chiponda’s secret that keeps him going at such an advanced age?
“I neither drink nor smoke. That is the difference between me and the youths of today. They spend most of their time with women or drinking beer,” he said.
Chiponda, who started boxing in 1976, but turned professional in 1990, said despite failing to win any accolade in the region, he did not have any regrets in having joined the boxing ring.
“I am very happy with what I have achieved so far. It was because of boxing that I own this gym as well as a grocery shop. My only regret is that I never faced Kilimanjaro.
“The time that I wanted to fight him, my promoters felt that he was too heavy for me and unfortunately he became sick when I was ready to face him,” said Chiponda who represented Zimbabwe at the 1984 Olympic Games in the United States.
“I am also grateful to have represented Zimbabwe in international competitions such as the Olympic Games as well the All Africa Games. I remember during our preparations for the 1984 Olympic Games when I met George Foreman and Mahommed Ali. ”
Chiponda, who like Ward also works as a driver, has been a holder of various belts in the country ranging from cruiserweight division to the heavy weight title.
As his Shumba (lion) totem implies, Chiponda is known as a fearless boxer who is not afraid to take on even those above his weight, fighting in the heavyweight category while in the cruiserweight division.
Among a host of heavyweight boxers he floored includes Joseph Mutambisi (alias Kid Power), Captain Cleopas Marvel and Bonyongwe the Destroyer.“I have had a number of fights that I have been proud of, but the one against Nate Campbell is still fresh on my mind. His wife cried when I beat him,” he said amid chuckles.
Veteran sports commentator hails aRigoma Chiponda
Veteran sports commentator Mabika described him as one of the most accomplished boxers in the country.
“I still remember the day he floored Kid Power twice and that is something that had never happened. He is one of the most accomplished boxers in the country, but unfortunately has never taken a dig at a continental or international title as did the likes of Proud Chinembiri (alias Kilimanjaro) and Alfonso Zvenyika,” he said. His current manager, Thomas Kambuyi reckons that Chiponda is one of the best boxers to emerge in the country.
“It is unfortunate that he turned professional late. However, I do not think that he should continue boxing as the country can use his expertise,” he said.
Such is Arigoma “The Master Blaster” Chiponda, the granddaddy of Zimbabwean boxing.
