SA boxer Fred Zziwa aiming for world title after winning 2021 Australian Club Championships

He’s been on quite a journey since moving to Australia from Africa eight years ago but this amateur boxer is one step closer to his dream of becoming the world’s best.

SA boxer Fred Zziwa (L) in action at the 2021 National Championships. Picture: Supplied, Craig Clifford Sportspics

Fred Zziwa has his eyes firmly focused on being the world’s best boxer, and the rising star is on his way to realising that dream.

Zziwa, who is living in South Australia on a student visa after relocating from Uganda, East Africa, about eight years ago, is the Australian Club champion in the 60kg elite open category.

The 23-year-old won the title at the Boxing Australia Club Championships, which was hosted in Adelaide this month.

His win followed a triumph at the SA/QLD Challenge in March, which helped secure SA a cup victory.

“It means a lot to win,” the Victor Harbor Boxing Club member said.

“This is a big achievement every amateur boxer fights for that title.

“It’s all my hard work and dedication paying off.

“I want to keep learning and improving and competing.

“I want to be the world champion and maybe make an Olympic team.”

Zziwa always dreamt of experiencing life in a different country.

Fate then led him to his ‘Australian mum’ Melinda Mayne but he had to wait two years after meeting her before first arriving here.

SA boxer Fred Zziwa (R) with coach Mark Nethercott after the 2021 National Championships. Picture: Supplied, Craig Clifford Sportspics

“There was a young woman called Chloe who was doing a fundraising project for a school called Redstar in Uganda,” Mayne said.

“I went along to this auction that was held at a winery that she had organised to raise money for the school.

“After a few glasses of red I said to Chloe ‘hey if you want some body to go to Uganda with you, let me know’.

“She rang me a few weeks later and said ‘I’m booking the tickets do you want to come?’

“I ended up at Redstar and that is the school that Fred was attending at the time.

Fred Zziwa’s boxing achievements:

Record: 24 wins, six losses.

■2017 State 60kg Champion Elite Novice Division

■Boxing SA 64kg Challenge Belt Winner

■2018 New Zealand Golden Gloves 60kg Champion Elite Novice Division

■SA Scorpions Super 8, 60kg representative

■2019 State 69kg Champion Elite Open Division

■Darwin Arafura Games 60kg Bronze Medal Elite Open Division

■Queensland Golden Gloves 60kg Champion Elite Open Division

■SA Scorpions Super 8, 64kg representative

■Australian tour group representative to the Philippines – 10 day training camp

■2020 State Championships 60kg Silver Medal Elite Open Division

■South Australian boxer of the year

■2021 Australian Club Championships Champion Elite Open Division

“I reckon the third day he asked if I would take him back to Australia with me.

“That was the start of the journey and it was probably about two years later that we were actually able to get him over here.”

Zziwa, who is studying a commercial cookery and culinary course at TAFE SA, is also the reigning SA boxer of the year, having been awarded the title in 2020.

He is proud of his journey so far, after only taking up boxing six years ago, but hungry for more success.

“I was playing soccer before I started boxing but I noticed that when you play with other people some can’t maintain motivation and they weren’t as motivated as I am,” Zziwa said.

“I am always motivated when I play sport.

“I started boxing just for fitness but my coach suggested I enter in a fight and I did and I won so I kept doing it.

“I have fallen in love with the sport and I just want to be the best.”