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Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter

WORLD Boxing Council super-bantamweight interim champion Kudakwashe Chiwandire has gone into her final preparatory camp ahead of her October 1 title defence fight against Mexican Zulina Munoz.

Kudakwashe Chiwandire

Chiwandire grabbed the prestigious crown on February 26 after defeating Catherine Phiri of Zambia.

The 26-year-old Zimbabwean pugilist checked in at a three-star hotel in Harare on Sunday as she intensified her preparations for the bill scheduled for the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC).

Take Money, as Chiwandire is fondly known, has KGK Logistics to thank for funding her training camp.

Her coach Clyde Musonda said Chiwandire is “super fit” for the bout which carries a US$20 000 pay cheque for the winner who will also secure the right to challenge for the gold title.

“Take Money entered into the last stretch camp on Sunday and is upbeat ahead of the tie. This camp follows a two-week trip she took to South Africa last month where she did sparring sessions with three boxers. She is super fit, she’s looking forward to the fight.

“The reason we decided that she goes into camp at a local hotel is to put her in isolation, restrict her movement to reduce chances of getting Covid-19 which can stop her from fighting. We can’t take chances, so she’ll be training at the hotel gym which is superb and will concentrate on getting herself ready for the fight,” Musonda said.

Harare International Conference Centre (HICC)

The winner of the October 1 bout at the HICC will face either number one ranked Yeimi Yamleth Mercardo or Mariana Barby Juarez in a gold title fight at a later date. Mercardo and Juarez trade leather on October 15 in Mexico.

Chiwandire’s team is confident that Take Money will secure passage to the gold fight.

“Nothing is stopping Take Money as she’s determined to dominate and continue putting Zimbabwe on the map. We’re not reading much into the experience of Munoz who is 36 years old and is about to retire. Take Money is young, energetic and will not allow anything to stand in her way as she works to conquer the world,” Musonda said. — @ZililoR