OnSport Reporter
RISING Zimbabwe boxer Beaven Sibanda is elated by his first title win after clinching the International Boxing Federation Minimum weight International belt.
The South Africa-based Sibanda knocked out Filipino Richard Garde in the fifth-round at the Emperor’s Palace in Johannesburg on Saturday night.
The win has boosted his confidence in the ring.
The pugilist said the journey to being an international champion has not been a rosy one.
“The boxing journey has not been easy. I had to train with mixed martial arts guys until I found a boxing gym. I turned pro in 2022 in Zimbabwe and then came back here to South Africa to start my pro journey,” he said.
Sibanda, made his first amateur debut in 2016 with just three days of training boxing in Harare under coach Alexander Kwangwari.
He then moved to Charles Manyuchi Academy before making the trek to SA, where is his under Brian Mitchel Gym.
The win saw his record rise to nine wins with one loss.
Speaking of the fight, Sibanda said it was not really hard for him despite facing a tough opponent.
“It was only hard mentally because I had to be so sharp, so I kept on looking to see if he was going to try to do something. I was just trying to stay calm and composed, waiting for the right moment because I didn’t want to rush him. I knocked him out in round five with a body shot. I hit him with a body shot in the first round. That’s when I saw that he didn’t like it,” Sibanda said.
He added: “So I knew that it was just a matter of time before I knocked him out, but I didn’t want to rush anything because I’ve seen him fight. He is really a tough guy. He’s never been knocked out. And he has also fought opponents with tough punches, who have knockout power. I was just cautious with myself.”
