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Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter

FATIGUE could have played a key factor for Zimbabwe’s top female boxer Kudakwashe Chiwandire who lost the ultimate World Boxing Council (WBC) Gold belt against Yeimi Yamleth Mercardo in Chihuahua, Mexico yesterday morning.

The Zimbabwean boxer lost by points having gone all the way to the 10 rounds of two minutes each.

It was Chiwandire’s third defeat since turning professional in 2015. Chiwandire, who was fighting her 10th high level bout, lost to Barbra Banda of Zambia on her debut in 2015 and against Netsayi Bondayi in 2019.

She then went on to win four bouts and drew once before going down to Mercardo.

It was a heartbreak defeat for Chiwandire, popularly known as Take Money, who didn’t have a time to acclimatise before stepping on to the ring.

Having received her visa on Wednesday, Chiwandire arrived in Chihuahua for her fight on Friday midnight and immediately went for the weigh-in. She only rested for a day before trading leather with the Mexican.

Chiwandire’s team tried to have the fight postponed by at least six days as stated in the contract but failed.

Kudakwashe ‘Take Money’ Chiwandire

The Zimbabwean boxer, who got a shot at the WBC Gold belt after defeating Mexican challenger Zulina Munoz at the Harare International Conference Centre last October, had set a target of knocking out the Mercardo.

Despite losing the bill in Mexico, Chiwandire’s manager and trainer Clyde Musonda heaped praises on the boxer.

“Take Money gave a good account of herself and as a team we’re proud of her performance. Had we arrived within the six days to acclimatise, she could have won the fight. We are however not discouraged because we know she will bounce back,” Musonda said. — @ZililoR