Rolling with the punches in virus-hit Zimbabwe

HARARE－For Revai Madondo, a professional female boxer from Zimbabwe, the effects of the pandemic have been catastrophic.

Social-distancing measures to curtail the spread of COVID-19 have had major implications for Zimbabwean boxers, according to Madondo, who added that lockdowns have resulted in serious financial issues for individuals whose livelihoods depend on the combat sport.

"COVID had dire consequences. As we speak, there are no fights. We earn our living through fights, so COVID continues to mess up things," she told Xinhua.

"In addition, gyms are closed, that's where our boxing equipment usually is. So as a boxer I depend on doing exercises at home. If I manage to get a punching bag, then I train with it. That's how we are coping."

To protect the health of athletes and spectators, sporting events in Zimbabwe have been halted for an indefinite period.

Tournaments briefly resumed in March after a year-long hiatus but were abruptly stopped again in June following a surge in COVID-19 infections as a third virus wave swept through the country.

But despite pandemic disruptions, the budding pugilist will not hang up her gloves.

The super flyweight champion, known in the ring as "Black Jaguar", has continued to work out alone in her Harare apartment.

"The cancellation of sporting events soon after their resumption affected us a lot because we thought things would start flowing normally. But sporting events were halted and it hindered our progress, and now we have no idea if we will carry on or when things might normalize. But as boxers, we will continue training at home," she said.

Despite these challenges, Madondo performed exceptionally well at a tournament staged in Harare in June.

Dubbed the "Pound for Pound Series" and themed "Knockout COVID-19", the event was the second national boxing tournament to be staged in Zimbabwe following the resumption of sporting events in May.

Madondo vanquished her opponent in the third round to improve to a 4-2-1 record.

But as a professional boxer, the major hurdle she faces is securing sponsors on a regular basis, a situation that has been exacerbated by the pandemic.

"I have sponsors, they help me here and there, not all the time, which hinders my progress," she said.

"For example, my current sponsors only assist me during the fight, but before we go for fights I need to survive, I need to train and so on.

"So if you don't have those sponsors, to manage expenses like food, paying rent and paying for a gym membership, there is no choice other than going out, engaging in menial trade, and then come to train with others so that things can go on smoothly."

Since income from fights has long dried up, Madondo now depends on selling leather products in order to eke out a living.

In addition to financial issues, Madondo said female boxers face a myriad of problems, the most serious of which is sexual exploitation by male coaches and managers.

She added that "middlemen" are in the boxing game to benefit at the expense of female boxers.

Madondo, though, remains confident that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

"As a boxer, I continue training, running, doing regular exercise, so that when tournaments resume I'll be ready, I'll be strong. So I will not stop training, I will continue to work out, it will help me stay fit," she said.

Although life has not been easy under lockdown, the fighter said she will not hang her gloves but will carry on until tournaments resume and she returns to the ring.

Xinhua