Boxers celebrate Manyuchi’s exploits

Lovemore Dube, Sports Editor
THE secretary of the Zimbabwe Board of Boxing Control, Gilbert Munetsi has described Charles Manyuchi’s clinching of the African Boxing Union welterweight title as the dawn of a new era. The Masvingo boxer knocked out Burkina Faso’s Patrice Toke in the fifth round to restore pride in the sport.
Zimbabwean boxing has been in the doldrums for a while owing to lack of sponsorship and a vibrant active scene. Manyuchi who now fights for Zambia’s Oriental Boxing Club, has been the country’s biggest hope in the sport in the last four years.

In an interview yesterday afternoon, Munetsi said the future looks good for the sport. He said the win would certainly revive interest in the sport which has in previous instances seen boxers like Thamsanqa Dube, Langton “Schoolboy” Tinago, Tineyi Maridzo, Proud “Kilimanjaro” Chinembiri and Arifonso Zvenyika win international titles.

“We hope this is the beginning of a new era. We so happy for him, he has done us proud and the sky looks the limit.
“This is the opportunity for the sport to take off now. It has really brought a lot of excitement on to the scene. Our hopes are that he will not rest on his laurels and will stay hungry to achieve more,” said Munetsi of the boxer’s fifth round knockout.

Manyuchi has been impressive winning fights in Lusaka, Zambia and in Namibia where a majority of his countrymen have been on the receiving end.
An entertaining and calculating puncher, Manyuchi is a delight in the ring.

There is no doubt that his win on Friday earned him an automatic ranking with the World Boxing Council.
One of the country’s senior boxers Edmos Takawira of Gweru yesterday welcomed Manyuchi’s win.

“The kid has done it, lets show the country that if Warriors fail, we as boxers we can make it, regardless of colour, tribe or creed. We need each other. It’s unfortunate when Thamsanqa won and Tinaye won belts, we were not close as this, but lets not let this slip away,” wrote Takawira on social network WhatsApp on Zimbox.

Breaking the news to Chronicle on Saturday morning, Otis Manyuchi, the boxer’s local trainer and father said he was happy with his son’s achievement.

“He deserves it, he has put in a lot of work. We would like to thank those who have stood by Charles and supported him on this journey,” said Otis.