Boxing Legend Tar Baby Laid to Rest

A SOMBRE atmosphere engulfed Mabvuku cemetery yesterday when scores of people braved the searing heat to bury one of Zimbabwe's legendary boxers, Jao Mohammed Afonso, who died on Friday.

A former Rhodesian light-heavyweight and then heavyweight champion, Jao Afonso, whose name in the square ring was Beira Tar Baby, died after a battle with prostrate cancer, according to members of his family. Born on August 1, 1933, Tar Baby was a household name in boxing as he had an illustrious career of 49 recorded professional fights spanning from 1959 to 1963.

One of the celebrated pugilist's sons, Misheck Mutemaringa, said his father succumbed to illness at his home along Mushongandebvu Drive in Harare's high-density suburb of Mbare. (click here for full article at The Herald Online)