When Théoneste Gakunzi first walked right into a boxing membership at Amahoro Stadium as a teen, he was not interested by nationwide championships, worldwide medals or turning into captain of Rwanda’s nationwide staff.
He merely needed to learn to defend himself.
Born on August 5, 1988, in Ngororero District, Gakunzi grew up because the third of 4 kids. Like a lot of his friends, he initially most popular soccer, however frequent fights at college pushed him in the direction of martial arts.
“I needed to defend myself,” he recollects.
That seek for self-defence launched him to boxing round 2000. On the fitness center, he found that the game was about way more than combating.
“You possibly can't struggle on the street. You struggle on the fitness center or in competitors. Boxing taught me to be accountable and to defend your self when it actually issues,” he says.
Impressed by boxing legends Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis, Gakunzi started competing for Lemans and Remera Boxing Membership earlier than incomes a spot on Rwanda’s nationwide staff in 2006.
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His first worldwide competitors was the Zone V match in Nairobi, Kenya, the place he gained bronze within the 64kg class. That very same 12 months, he gained nationwide championship gold in each the 64kg and 69kg classes and added bronze on the East African Military Boxing Competitors in Kigali.
Gakunzi went on to turn out to be a five-time nationwide champion and compete in a number of worldwide tournaments. One in every of his profession highlights got here on the 2011 African Video games in Maputo, Mozambique, the place he completed runner-up.
“I beloved all of the African Video games that befell in Mozambique. I used to be pleased with that competitors. It was an excellent competitors and I did nicely,” he says.
He additionally remembers stopping Mustapha Mpakaniye with a left hook within the second spherical of a 2010 CNLS-sponsored match at Amahoro Stadium.
Ultimately, Gakunzi grew to become captain of Rwanda’s nationwide staff.
“Being captain of the nationwide staff is one thing that I nonetheless keep in mind. We performed competitions that helped us acquire extra expertise and put the title of the nation on the worldwide boxing map,” he says.
Boxing past the ring
For Gakunzi, boxing provided greater than medals. It taught him self-discipline, helped him construct relationships and supported his schooling.
He says the revenue he earned via boxing helped pay his college charges in 2015.
“All of the examine charges I obtained have been from boxing,” he says.
Nonetheless, his profession additionally uncovered him to the monetary challenges dealing with athletes. He says boxers want correct vitamin, tools, teaching, restoration and common competitors, all of which require funding.
“A boxer must eat nicely, loosen up and have a coach. He wants coaching and extra competitors. All of this requires monetary backing,” he says.
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Gakunzi stepped away from aggressive boxing round 2014, partly due to different duties, together with his schooling. However he remained concerned within the sport.
From boxer to educate
After retiring, Gakunzi accomplished an Worldwide Boxing Affiliation (AIBA) teaching course and commenced working as a coach. He additionally grew to become a referee with the Rwanda Boxing Federation.
“After retirement, my dream was to turn out to be a coach. I did what I may,” he says.
At this time, he works as a boxing coach and hopes to ascertain his personal fitness center and boxing membership to coach and mentor younger athletes.
His ambition is pushed by a need to assist younger Rwandans develop their expertise and self-discipline whereas creating alternatives he believes can take them to the skilled degree.
Constructing the subsequent era
Gakunzi believes Rwanda has gifted younger boxers however wants higher funding within the sport.
He requires higher services, tools, transport and monetary help, whereas urging the non-public sector to play an even bigger position.
“To start with, we want boxing supporters. We want tools and locations to coach. We want help for kids, together with transportation. There are such a lot of issues which can be wanted,” he says.
“Now we have a younger era of boxers. If we help them and assist them, they will turn out to be good skilled boxers. However the concern of finance continues to be there.”
Gakunzi as soon as dreamed of reaching the best degree {of professional} boxing, impressed by Tyson and Lewis. That dream was by no means realised.
“I needed to play at a really excessive degree like Tyson Fury and Lennox Lewis. I didn't attain that dream due to circumstances in life. However I don't blame myself,” he says.
As an alternative, he has redirected his ambition in the direction of the subsequent era.
His message to younger boxers is straightforward: be affected person.
Greater than 20 years after coming into a boxing fitness center to be taught self-defence, Gakunzi has turn out to be a five-time nationwide champion, worldwide medallist and former national-team captain.
Now, his struggle is totally different.
He’s not making an attempt to win bouts. He’s serving to Rwanda produce the boxers who can.
