Former British welterweight world champion and boxing star, Kell Brook, has pledged to inspire Zimbabwe's next generation of fighters during his maiden visit to the country, saying discipline, hard work and dedication can transform young athletes into global champions.

Brook arrived in Zimbabwe at the invitation of the Charles Manyuchi Boxing Academy and  Proma Events Africa, and was officially welcomed at a press conference in Harare on Sunday attended by officials from the Zimbabwe National Boxing and Wrestling Control Board and representatives of the local boxing fraternity. Among the officials was board member Hazel Zisanhi, ZNBWCB CEO Priscilla Kadungure.and Marketing manager Maculwamahle Nkomo. 

Speaking at the event, Proma Events Africa chief executive Blessing Jeke said the visit was aimed at exposing local boxers to international experience while helping bridge the gap between amateur and professional boxing.

"We are here to get opportunities when it comes to boxing. Our boxers have a gap in between the champion and the amateur, so we are trying to bring these guys who can inspire the young ones," said Jeke.

He said Brook's visit was the first of its kind and formed part of broader efforts to strengthen the sport and create pathways for aspiring fighters.

Brook, who enjoyed a distinguished professional career that saw him compete against some of the biggest names in world boxing, expressed excitement at visiting Zimbabwe for the first time and interacting with local athletes.

"Thank you guys for having me in Africa. I am very excited being welcomed and I am very excited to inspire the fighters in Zimbabwe."

The former champion said boxing had transformed his life and opened doors around the world, a journey he hopes will motivate young Zimbabwean boxers.

"I have boxed all my life and I have made it in life through boxing and I would like to inspire the young fighters that if you work hard and you show your talent and you listen to your trainers and you work hard, you can be like me and see the world and be in the big fights across the world."

Brook described his arrival in Zimbabwe as a homecoming of sorts.

"The hospitality has been very nice to me. I am blessed to be in my motherland of Africa. I am very excited to have a tour around Zimbabwe on my first visit. I am very excited to see the people, meet the people, meet the fighters and give them some positive energy."

Zimbabwe National Boxing and Wrestling Control Board chief executive Priscilla Kadungure said the visit was expected to have far-reaching benefits for the country's boxing ecosystem.

"We are going to see Mr Brook doing some tours around our gym facilities in the country and our boxing clubs," said Kadungure.

She outlined several key outcomes the board hopes to achieve through the visit, including athlete motivation, skills development and international networking opportunities.

"The impact of this visit that we expect to have felt by the end of his tour is athlete inspiration and motivation," she said. "Number two is technical knowledge transfer. We do have quite a lot of technical gaps that we are hoping through his inspiration, from someone who has made it in life through boxing, our stakeholders and athletes will gain and benefit directly from him."

Kadungure added that the tour would also promote clean and safe sport while creating international exposure and investment opportunities for Zimbabwean boxing.

Asked how the existing gaps in local boxing could be addressed, Brook said he would first need time to assess the local environment before offering recommendations.

"This is the first time I've come to Africa. Things are different in England," he said. "I need to look first to see where I can see the stepping stone to the bridge. I've just arrived. I need to see what I think needs to be done for these fighters to come forward and get on the big stage where the big lights are."

Brook said part of his mission was to understand how Zimbabwean boxing could better position its athletes for international recognition.

"That's why I'm here — to see what needs to be done and how to improve the system," he said.

The former champion also had words of encouragement for young boxers from disadvantaged communities who dream of following in his footsteps.

"I've got everything through boxing because I had a dream," said Brook. "I had a dream when I was a little boy that if I worked hard, I could do it."

He urged aspiring fighters to remain focused and committed to their goals.

"The answer is to work hard, take boxing very seriously, listen to the people who have made it and just work hard," he said. "Eat the right food, train very hard and don't be denied. Make sure nobody can say you can't. You've got to believe you're going to do this, and you will do it."

Brook is expected to tour boxing clubs and training facilities across the country during his stay, engaging athletes and coaches while sharing experiences from a professional career that saw him rise from humble beginnings to the pinnacle of world boxing.

Officials hope the visit will leave a lasting legacy by inspiring local talent and strengthening efforts to develop Zimbabwe into a competitive force on the international boxing stage.