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Charles Manyuchi has now cemented his place as one of Zimbabwe’s greatest sportspersons after he convincingly won away in Russia to succeed Briton, Amir Khan as the World Boxing Council welterweight silver champion.

The boxer, 26, defeated Russian Dmitry Mikhaylenko in 12 rounds in their Friday night bout in Yekaterinburg. With that win, there is no doubt that Manyuchi is now among the best pugilists not only in his division, but also in the game.

The profile of the belt he won in Russia is enormous if one considers the man who vacated it recently, Khan.

One of the richest and most recognisable sportspersons in world sport, boxing specifically, Khan jumped two divisions to challenge Mexican Saul Alvarez at middleweight, but was crushed on Saturday in Las Vegas, US.

He was knocked out in the sixth round, but Khan earned $13 million in 18 minutes. Before Saturday Khan was already a multi-millionaire and world famous.

Now the man who has succeeded him in the welterweight division he voluntarily left is Manyuchi, a modest fighter still fighting for a name, not for the money really yet. We do not have the most fitting diction to hail our champion.

Not many of his compatriots have watched him in action to appreciate his skills, so many of us did not believe that after his first victory in Europe when he defeated Italian Gianculla Frezza in July last year, he would win again, away once more, now in Russia to a Russian.

In both fights, Manyuchi’s opponents were not just Frezza and Mikhaylenko but also the spectators who naturally rallied behind their compatriots. At least 27,000 roared against him on Friday, drowning the cheers of his small Zambian contingent and a few Zimbabwean students stationed in the Russian town. This did nothing to prevent judges Alexander Kalinkin (Russian), Barry Lindenman (US) and Lateef Muis (Nigeria) scoring the bout 116-114, 118-110 and 115-113 to Manyuchi.

Sport and Recreation Minister, Makhosini Hlongwane, credited for bringing Manyuchi’s career back on the rails after he fell out with his Zambian handlers over the sharing of the prize money he got from President Mugabe last year, led the nation in celebrating his latest conquest.

“Against all odds, a very cold weather, an intimidating 27,000 strong Russian crowd, a career that almost got off the rails, Charles has continued to win for the country, for himself and the boxing fraternity.

“Charles’ never die attitude; a durable and resilient spirit of making Zimbabwe a winning nation, and of giving joy and happiness to all sport loving people of Zimbabwe, is a cause for celebration. Well done son of the soil,” said Minister Hlongwane.

Since he debuted on February 14, 2009, at Harare’s Raylton Club, Manyuchi has fought 21 times, winning 18 times, drawing once and losing on points twice to Mordecai Donga, a Zimbabwean and Page Tshesane, a South African. It is significant that in a rematch against Donga at the Large City Hall in Bulawayo on June 3, 2011, Manyuchi won by unanimous decision.

Interviewed by our sister paper, The Sunday Mail from Russia on Saturday, Manyuchi said:

“I was always confident of defeating him and I thank God for this victory. I think I now deserve a diplomatic passport. I’m a true Zim-Asset. I’m happy that I’ve raised the Zimbabwean flag once again; I’m happy, thank you God. Thank you Zimbabweans and Zambians for your support, May God bless you, I made it and I love you all. Im grateful to my Zambian promoters Oriental Quarries, the Minister of Sports Makhosini Hlongwane, my Zimbabwean sponsor Mr T35 hes my hero, he has supported me through and through.”

He deserves a massive welcome when he returns home this week. Harare International Airport should be a sea of humanity on the day he comes back for by winning in Russia; he won for himself, yes, but also for his country.

It was a tense but refreshing sight of the fighter on the few pictures available, seated and apparently praying, draped in the national flag on Friday night just before he walked into the ring. It was an uplifting sight again to see him after his achievement encircled by two national flags together with four of his Zambian handlers.

Zimbabwe has over the yars witnessed considerable boxing success. The late Proud Chinembiri won the African Boxing Union All Africa heavyweight title, Langton Tinago, was a Commonwealth lightweight and super featherweight champion while Alfonso Zvenyika, won the Commonwealth light flyweight title. However, Manyuchi is winning and defending world titles, which renders more gravitas to his credentials.

He deserves much more than a diplomatic passport he mentioned in his Sunday Mail interview. The government would, no doubt, fete him once again. President Mugabe gave him $50,000 in Harare last year after he beat Frezza. We have no doubt that the government has another plan to honour him for yet another successful mission. Manyuchi thoroughly deserves it. He is a champion, a proud ambassador of our nation, a true Zim Asset.

With his latest feat, Manyuchi now has a chance to fight for the money. It’s not as easy as that though.

Reports say he earned up to $36,000 for the WBC silver belt on Friday, but he can now attract the bigger names in the sport, the cash and a global audience that appears to not have grasped the reality of his success in the ring.