BY MUNYARADZI MADZOKERE
Upcoming female boxing star Revai “Black Jaguar” Madondo is set to challenge for the World Boxing Federation (WBF) flyweight title and also fight for the All-Africa WABA title this year alone.
Things are beginning to look up for the 21-year-old pugilist from Shurugwi who would love to emulate iconic Zimbabwean boxer Charles Manyuchi by winning multiple titles in her career.
After all, she remembers a time when she would hear about Manyuchi’s achievements on the radio and it also made her dream.
Madondo’s WBF fight with Argentinian boxer Mariela Ribera Valverde is, likely to be staged in Harare this July, but the dates are yet to be finalised while she is set to take part at the Tanganyika Trail Boxing Bonanza in Tanzania in September.
She will be gunning for a WABA title in Tanzania.
But for Madondo it has not been an easy journey.
“My desire is to win titles and have multiple belts at the same time like (Charles) Manyuchi. I used to hear a lot about his achievements on the radio back in the day in Shurugwi and I would be challenged to want to emulate him. I hope I will be able to achieve the success he had or do even better,” Madondo told The Sports Hub.
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Madondo, whose career began in Shurugwi as an amateur, is now under the wings of international trainer, agent and matchmaker Clyde Musonda who owns Deltaforce Boxing Academy.
In seven bouts so far, Madondo has won three, drawn two and lost two.
She reflects on how her journey began and the challenges she has faced.
“I used to be good at running when I was at school. I then had to leave athletics because my parents didn’t like it. My sister Sarudzai Boroma urged me to try boxing and I fell in love with the sport.
“It all started in 2010 when my sister (Boroma) introduced me to boxing. She always encouraged me to continue in the sport even when things were difficult and here I am still fighting on.
“It’s hard when you are a woman who is a boxer because people don’t really understand that a woman can make a career out of boxing. A lot of times people laugh at me saying fighting is for men but, for a sportsperson who understands where I want to go I refuse to be discouraged by negative comments,” Madondo said.
Boroma is a renowned coach, referee and administrator in local boxing.
As a young girl at Chironde Primary School, Madondo was not known for fighting and only fought to defend herself.
While she was not the smartest in class, she reckons she was better known by the teachers for being quiet and well-mannered.
When she makes it big in boxing Madondo has a buring desire to give back to the community that brought her up.
“Of course, everybody wants to win world titles but one thing in my heart when I become famous is to be able to give back to the community where I grew up in Shurugwi especially at the school that I went to. I would love to establish a project that uplifts other kids so that they can follow my footsteps. That is my wish,” she said.
Madondo also reflected on the upcoming title fights.
“It’s like a dream come true to have such big fights for a boxer. It shows how far I have come. I promise to do my best in the upcoming fights. My heart is telling me that I can bring the titles home,” the youthful boxer said.
However, with boxing bouts far apart, Madondo has had to find other ways to eke out a living.
“I am an informal trader. I sell things in the streets, that’s how I make a living. That is how I can pay for my rentals and feed myself when I do not have fights. I just look for things that are in demand at the time—it could be footwear, clothes and kitchenware,” she said.
Madondo’s trainer Musonda believes the boxer is destined for the top.
“It’s our third year working with Revai and she has a bright future in boxing especially because of her discipline and work ethic. I see a world champion in her and it’s just a matter of time,” Musonda said.
