Sports / Other
Boxer Thamsanqa Dube bounces back
01 Aug 2013 at 00:15hrs | Views
FORMER Zimbabwe and Pan-African World Boxing heavyweight champion Thamsanqa Dube is bouncing back to the ring after a two-year sabbatical.
Dube's was forced to take a break from boxing after being knocked out by South Africa's Flo Simba in August 2011.
The South African inflicted an injury to Dube, also known as "The Tanker" or "Thamzozo" by his fans.
In an interview, the Pumula born pugilist who has earned himself "The Baby Elephant" nickname before trading leather with Simba, said he had started working on his fitness.
"I have been out of the picture for a while since my fight with Simba. That guy beat me hard and I learnt it the hard way. I picked up an injury in that fight but now I have recovered. I have been hitting the punch bag for a while and I now want to hit a person.
"Whoever thinks that by losing to Simba I'm down and out should think again because I still have 12 more years to fight. I want to be the undisputed champion and I am ready to face anyone and anywhere. I am training very hard to get in shape," said Dube.
The boxer-cum-musician said he weighs 136kg.
The former heavyweight champion said he needs someone mobile to train with so that he can perfect his moves.
When he lost to Simba, Dube realised that he needs to do lots of sparring.
He said he might be forced to go to South Africa to perfect his skill.
In the past Dube used to do sparring with South Africa based Zimbabwean heavyweight boxer Victor Elvis Moyo.
"I think the problem with my size is that there are no heavyweight boxers in Zimbabwe. People are afraid to do sparring with me which makes it difficult for me especially when it comes to fights. You know, at times it helps to receive punches during training sessions so that when I go for real fights I am ready.
"I will be talking to the management that I worked with when I won the Pan-African World Boxing heavyweight title to see if I can go and train in South Africa before I get back into the ring," said Dube.
The heavily built Dube who used to train under veteran instructor Philip "Striker" Ndlovu has moved from Makokoba's Tshaka Youth Centre gym and now works out at Lobengula Youth Centre under Elington Mutero.
"I had a great time under Striker (Ndlovu) but I felt that I needed to change the environment and see what other coaches have to offer. I value the relationship I have with Striker and I will keep consulting him.
"I train at Lobengula Youth Centre with Mutero and I also lift weights at Revival Motorways gym which is in Kelvin North," said Dube.
Under Ndlovu, Dube won the Pan-African World Boxing heavyweight title after beating Jack Els in the eighth round at South Africa's ceremonial home of boxing, Emperors Palace.
Dube's was forced to take a break from boxing after being knocked out by South Africa's Flo Simba in August 2011.
The South African inflicted an injury to Dube, also known as "The Tanker" or "Thamzozo" by his fans.
In an interview, the Pumula born pugilist who has earned himself "The Baby Elephant" nickname before trading leather with Simba, said he had started working on his fitness.
"I have been out of the picture for a while since my fight with Simba. That guy beat me hard and I learnt it the hard way. I picked up an injury in that fight but now I have recovered. I have been hitting the punch bag for a while and I now want to hit a person.
"Whoever thinks that by losing to Simba I'm down and out should think again because I still have 12 more years to fight. I want to be the undisputed champion and I am ready to face anyone and anywhere. I am training very hard to get in shape," said Dube.
The boxer-cum-musician said he weighs 136kg.
The former heavyweight champion said he needs someone mobile to train with so that he can perfect his moves.
When he lost to Simba, Dube realised that he needs to do lots of sparring.
He said he might be forced to go to South Africa to perfect his skill.
In the past Dube used to do sparring with South Africa based Zimbabwean heavyweight boxer Victor Elvis Moyo.
"I think the problem with my size is that there are no heavyweight boxers in Zimbabwe. People are afraid to do sparring with me which makes it difficult for me especially when it comes to fights. You know, at times it helps to receive punches during training sessions so that when I go for real fights I am ready.
"I will be talking to the management that I worked with when I won the Pan-African World Boxing heavyweight title to see if I can go and train in South Africa before I get back into the ring," said Dube.
The heavily built Dube who used to train under veteran instructor Philip "Striker" Ndlovu has moved from Makokoba's Tshaka Youth Centre gym and now works out at Lobengula Youth Centre under Elington Mutero.
"I had a great time under Striker (Ndlovu) but I felt that I needed to change the environment and see what other coaches have to offer. I value the relationship I have with Striker and I will keep consulting him.
"I train at Lobengula Youth Centre with Mutero and I also lift weights at Revival Motorways gym which is in Kelvin North," said Dube.
Under Ndlovu, Dube won the Pan-African World Boxing heavyweight title after beating Jack Els in the eighth round at South Africa's ceremonial home of boxing, Emperors Palace.
Source - chronicle
