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Entertainment Reporter
ORGANISERS of the dancehall clash to be staged at the City Sports Centre this Saturday are optimistic the show will revive the once popular sport of boxing when chanters go head-to-head inside the ring.
As part of the exciting line-up, talented dancehall chanters among them Shinsoman, Sniper Storm, Killar T, Dadza D and Freeman (pictured) are billed to perform at a gig that resembles Wrestle Mania matches.

But all eyes will be on the big fight between Zimbabwean boxer Tapiwa Tembo and Zambia’s Gibon Kamota in a 12-round World Boxing Union bantam- weight title fight.

This is the first time a Zimbabwean is fighting for a world championship belt. The boxing match and dancehall fiesta are being organised by Chipaz Promotions and Delta Force Sports Trust.

“As Chipaz Promotions we want to promote Zimbabwean talent, be it sport or music. So we decided to combine music and boxing so that we revive the once popular sport in Zimbabwe where music lovers would attend to watch a bout. There is going to be music in between the fights so that fans enjoy the best of both worlds. We believe it is a workable combination and we are hopeful the show will live up to its billing with non-stop action,” Partson Chimbodza of Chipaz Promotions said.

He said boxing had lost its popularity over the past years and this collaborative effort would uplift both boxing and music in a positive way. Chimbodza said they brought dancehall musicians because the venue could not accommodate other artistes with full bands.

“Dancehall music is on the rise these days, so we are happy that such initiatives will help develop a movement that will churn out future stars and at the same time develop interest in the sport.

“Boxing was a popular sport during the days of (promoter) Stalin Mau Mau and it is a pity the sport had been ignored for a long time,” he said.

Godfatha Templeman, who will be the emcee at the event, said the musicians were raring to go.
“So far, it’s been good in all the camps and musicians are geared up for the show.

“The gig has captured the attention of most ghetto youths who follow dancehall music. It is quite exciting that music and boxing fans will be entertained at the same time. As for the show, we are going to witness the best in music as chanters go head-to-head,” he said.
According to Templeman, the chanters will also throw “freestyles” as they eye top honours.

However, they will keep it clean in the interest of their fans and the game.
“When two or more artistes battle, they tend to get personal but that’s as far as they go. We are not going to allow chanters to get physical since this is a ‘dancehall remedy’. There is going to be a lot of free-styling and that is where you should expect fireworks,” he said.