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Charles Manyuchi

Gilbert Munetsi, Harare Bureau
FORMER WBC silver champion Charles Manyuchi (W21-L3-D1) caps a year of mixed fortunes when he returns to the ring on December 30 to partake in one of five other supporting bouts of a tournament billed for the Government Complex in Lusaka, Zambia.

The card, put together by his management company Oriental Quarries Boxing Promotions, is expected to bring the curtain down for Manyuchi this season with the boxer desperate to quickly bury memories of the WBC silver title loss to Qudratillo Abduxorov away in Singapore during a turbulent course of his fighting term.

Riding on the financial and moral support of his principle sponsors, Mr T35 and an able management team, he has since managed to pick himself up, salvaging a win against Congolese Sherrif Kasongo a few months ago in an international friendly tie.

New OQBP sensation Alfred Muwowo (W-D-L), who considers Manyuchi his role model and has gone further to adopt the latter’s fighting style, – will be defending his African Boxing Union title against challenger Dalisizwe Komani of South Africa in a 12-round contest.

What is likely to pull the crowds is that the fight card has the Zambian stable’s Big Five in Muwowo (current ABU flyweight champion), Catherine Phiri (former WBC world bantamweight champion), Mbiya Nkanku (former ABU welterweight title holder) and Lolita Muzeya (WBC international champion now eyeing the silver) and Manyuchi.

A template, which local promoters could copy and paste to their operations for the good of Zimbabwean boxing, has seen the five pugilists tread a similar route that begins with the ABU, pass through the WBC international and silver, and end with a shot at the world title.

Telecommunications giant, Zamtel, is partnering Oriental Quarries with other corporates, which include Topstar and 24 Seven, adding financial muscle to make the bill possible.

Manyuchi, who has not broken camp since his last fight, yesterday said he was ‘’good to go’’ and would definitely give his Zambian supporters a treat.

”I have since learnt not to get into any fight casually but take each and every one of them with the same caution and commitment.

”While I respect each opponent, the ultimate goal is to come out the victor and my prospects of a major comeback are much brighter,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, SA’s Kola Koda Boxing Promotions have reportedly engaged Oriental Quarries Boxing with a view to have Manyuchi fight for the vacant WBC international silver title at the Harare International Conference Centre in January next year.

Sources privy to the developments confided to The Herald that Christopher Malunga, the OQBP supremo, had been given an option to seek an opponent for Manyuchi while considering a purse the promoter has dangled.

If it pulls through, it will be the second time that Manyuchi fights before his home crowd after he floored Colombian Jose Agustin Feria in the first round of a scheduled eight-round contest at the same venue in November last year.