Retired British boxing champion, Kell Brook, has expressed interest in coming out of retirement for a proposed fight aimed at promoting local talent and attracting international attention to the country.
Proma Events Africa chairman and National Organisation for Development and Empowerment (NODE) national advisor, ambassador Leonard Chidziva, said discussions were underway for a possible November event following Brook’s recent visit to Zimbabwe.
“The vision is to attract major international promoters and boxing stakeholders to Zimbabwe and position the country as a destination for world-class sporting events,” Chidziva said.
Brook chose Zimbabwe as his first African destination after visiting Gwanda on a familiarisation tour last week.
According to Chidziva, the visit also included a tour of Great Zimbabwe and engagements with young athletes and boxing academies.
“He agreed and said he wanted Zimbabwe to be his first destination because he had heard about one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, Victoria Falls,” Chidziva said.
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“We also took the opportunity to show him Great Zimbabwe because one cannot fully appreciate Zimbabwe without understanding the history behind our nation.”
In Gwanda, the delegation, hosted in Gwanda by Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution minister, Albert Nguluvhe, visited Gwanda High School.
The excitement was written all over the faces of the pupils as the former International Boxing Federation (IBF) welterweight champion stepped into the school’s boxing gym.
He interacted with aspiring boxers as part of efforts to assess the state of boxing in the country and explore ways of supporting local talent.
He shared lessons from a career that saw him rise from humble beginnings to become one of Britain’s most celebrated fighters.
The former boxer competed professionally between 2004 and 2022 and held the IBF welterweight title from 2014 to 2017.
“We believe we have started on the right path by bringing a former world champion like Brook,” Chidziva said.
“He was impressed by what he saw in Zimbabwe and promised to return and assist young people, particularly those who lack equipment, facilities and proper training opportunities.”
National Organisation for Development and Empowerment Bulawayo provincial chairman, Eddie Benson Muchenje, said Brook’s visit had the potential to transform Zimbabwe’s boxing landscape by opening doors for young athletes to access international opportunities.
“It is the beginning of efforts to connect Zimbabwean talent with the international boxing community and create pathways for our young athletes to compete and excel on the global stage,” Muchenje said.
“Having a former world champion engage directly with our academies and young fighters sends a powerful message that our talent can attract global attention and investment if given the right support.”