Manyuchi who leaves for Namibia today and whose last fight was in Zambia last year, said he was confident he will win the fight against his Namibian opponent.

“This is my first fight against a white boxer but I am not fazed and I will come back victorious. I have never seen the guy fight or watched any of his fights because as a champion I do not need to. I will just go there and impose my game plan and win. That is what I am promising Zimbabwe.

“Of course my coach Phillip Striker who will accompany me has seen him fight so he knows what to expect. Iam just focused on beating him and gearing up for my next fights this month,” the 23-year-old boxer said yesterday.

His coach Striker echoed his sentiments.

The trainer rates Manyuchi highly.

He however said three boxers lost to Jaarman but was quick to point out that they were not in the same class as Manyuchi.

“The power and speed this young man has is astonishing and I cannot see Jaarman stopping him in their four rounds bout. Manyuchi is our world champion right here in Zimbabwe and all that is needed is a favourable boxing environment then the sky is the limit,” Striker said.

Manyuchi said the long break from boxing was not going to affect him as he had been working out very hard to keep in top shape.

He said his hunger for victory was still high and his Namibian opponent was going to feel it.

Manyuchi said he fought once in Namibia but he did not expect much difference this time around when he fights at the Windhoek Sports Club.

The highly-rated boxer who has an impressive record of 17 fights of which he won 15 (four of them international) and only lost two, said every bout was a new game.

He has fought in Namibia, Malawi and Zambia and is unbeaten in all his international fights.

Manyuchi, the son of former light middleweight champion Otis Manyuchi dethroned Mordecai Donga to claim the national light middleweight belt in June last year while he claimed the welterweight belt in 2010 after defeating Tafadzwa Kuchoda.

He said this month was going to be busy for him as he was going to travel to Lusaka, Zambia three days after fighting in Namibia for a welterweight bout against Daison Mwisa on 20th of this month.

Manyuchi said there was another month end fight that was scheduled for South Africa.

He however lamented poor marketing of boxing in the country which he said made it difficult for him to challenge international fighters for titles as he was expected to foot his own bill to participate in such fights.

“The situation in the country is bleak with regards to boxing as there is no market for the sport and there are no sponsors or financially stable promoters to foot the bill when I challenge international fighters for international title fights and as such we request all able members of the corporate world to help us,” Manyuchi said.

Striker said lack of sponsorship was adversely affecting programmes to promote boxing in the country and top talent like Manyuchi could go to waste unless the sport is supported financially.

“The sport needs corporate support to enable us to develop the abundant talent. Boxers should be able to challenge title holders and participate in top tournaments.

“As it is we cannot do much for our boxers because we do not have the money,” the renowned trainer said.

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