Manyuchi eager to return
By Austin Karonga
Boxer Charles Manyuchi is desperate to use the International Boxing Federation Super Welterweight Inter-continental title fight against Ariel Alejandro Zampedri later this month to get his career back on the rails.
The former World Boxing Council welterweight (silver) champion will return to the ring against the Argentinian on May 25, at the Harare International Conference Centre, since losing his welterweight title to Uzbek boxer Qudratillo Abduqaxorov in Singapore in 2017.
The 30-year-old, whose record stands at 22-4-1 appears to have learnt his lessons following the embarrassing fashion he lost his title and now feels he is ready to reclaim his place at the top once more.
The bout will be promoted by Manyuchi’s Academy and they have since roped in Gary Thompson and Associates to market and raise funds for the fight, with a launch being held in the capital recently.
Speaking at the launch Manyuchi was bullish.
“I need to come back. I want my title. I can fight even for free but all I want is my title, I want my legacy back,” Manyuchi said.
Thompson urged people to come on board and help raise funds for the bout to be a success.
“Manyuchi is making a comeback, Manyuchi represents the people of Zimbabwe, the spirit of Zimbabwe but we need to have courage to into the ring,” Thompson said. “We have been so battered, so bruised, we fighting for our budgets, we fighting for fees, we fighting each other and now is the time to say listen, this is one of our sons we can’t just bury them at the heroes acre when they are dead.
“We did it for Tuku, fine, Manyuchi is alive and he is going into the biggest fight. The biggest fight this country has seen since independence, IBF title fight, a world title fight. So I’m saying were are we, are we the spectators to just watch?”
“We need to raise the hands together. Manyuchi will win, he will bring the title and after that Zimbabwe wins and we go to the next. It’s a picture for us to win that’s why I’m saying let’s get into the ring, let’s believe again. He can’t be in Zambia, Tanzania or South Africa. Why are we losing our best to go elsewhere? Is it because we have already lost in our minds?
“For sponsors, we are saying this is not a charity and we are not begging this is a huge bout. They bang beyond their brand power; they can box beyond their bucks getting with the world title fight.” Daily News.
