a project inspired by the remarkable life of the founder of the victoria falls boxing academy, tobius mupfuti, is in the works. The film which is in early stage discussions, plans to shoot locally in zimbabwe and showcase zimbabwean talent and zimbabwean stories to an international audience.

jessie, who has family in victoria falls, spent a year working on mupfuti’s story before approaching zimbabwean-born hollywood actor tongayi chirisa to play the leading role.

the project will be chirisa’s first in zimbabwe since his acting career took him to south africa (mr. bones 2, studio 263) and onto the us where he has lived and worked for 13 years (Antelbellum, the jim gaffigan show, women of the movement, trees of peace, another life, mayfair witches)

joe njagu, the renowned harare-based filmmaker is on the producing team. njagu notably produced cook off the first zimbabwean film to be acquired by netflix.

jessica j. rowlands is attached to write and direct.