So near, and yet very far for Tembo

SOUTH AFRICA-based Zimbabwean boxer Tapiwa “Finnix” Tembo was 900g short of snatching the vacant World Boxing Federation bantamweight title and will have to pray for another opportunity to be afforded another shot at what would have been his greatest ring accolade.

Tembo, who failed to meet the weight at the 11th hour, was given a two-hour ultimatum to shed the 900g excess but could not and despite beating Tanzanian Swedi Mahomed by KO in Round 4 of the scheduled 10 Round contest, he only has the purse to console him.

According to rules and regulations governing boxing the world over, if one boxer is below or above the weight expectation, the match may proceed, but in the event that the affected boxer wins (as was the case with Tembo), he is not given the title.

Had Mahomed won, he would have been crowned the new WBF bantamweight champion on the night.

The exciting Gweru-born pugilist who plies his trade under the Blood, Sweat and Tears stable in Cape Town, had been waiting for four years for the same opportunity. The last time he travelled to Harare, the show was cancelled owing to logistical challenges on the part of the promoter.

Ranked Number 254 out of 735 other bantamweight boxers in the world, a win would have ensured a climb up a few rungs the ladder for Tembo whose record now stands at W9 (KO5); L5; D1.

“I was devastated by the news and suspect I might have gained weight during travel from Cape Town because when I checked before departure, my weight was fine. It is not the end of the world, another chance will come and this time I will not let it pass by,” said Tembo.

The title was one of the two at stake in the Kalakoda-promoted tournament dubbed New Dawn which was held at the City Sports Centre last Friday.