Cat Face in date with destiny

Gilbert Munetsi
ZIMBABWE boxer Charles “Cat Face” Manyuchi takes to the Zambian ring for a tussle against Ghana’s Patrick Allotey in his quest to land the World Boxing Council international welterweight title on Saturday. The trio from home backing Cat Face are Monalisa Sibanda, Takudzwa Kuchocha and Chamunorwa Gonorenda.

Should he succeed, Manyuchi will be placed two rungs from getting the chance to challenge boxers of the profile of Floyd Mayweather Junior and begin to talk of six-digit purses.

That is the plan his Zambian handlers, Oriental Quarries Boxing Promotions, have drawn for him for the duration of a contract penned in October 2012.

“My dream is not just to be celebrated by my country folk, it is to conquer the world,” says Manyuchi.
Chosen to represent his province, Masvingo, at the National Youth Games in Gweru in 1998, he won gold and caught the eye of Eddison Zvobgo Jnr, a businessman and a boxing promoter, who encouraged him to turn professional.

Manyuchi won his debut fight against Isaac Phonkeni. That was in February 2009.

“He was like an unpolished diamond when I discovered him and when I took him on board, providing for his daily needs so that he did not get distracted from training, this is what we have —  a continental champion now vying for world acclaim,” said Zvobgo Jnr.

“As his local manager then, I put him on a monthly salary, and I was responsible for his upkeep.”
Zimbabwe National Boxing Control Board chairman, Paul Nenjarama, says they are delighted by what the boxer has achieved.

“We are delighted with his achievements. It augurs well for the future of boxing. I’m happy that Manyuchi is registered with us and he also has his father, Otis, on our books as a trainer,” said Nenjarama.

“It is our hope that now he has defended his title (ABU), he will be going forward for the WBC to win it for himself and his country.”
Oriental Quarries Boxing Promotions are his current managers responsible for his training and handling of his occupational affairs.

A delegation from Oriental Quarries has been in Harare, drumming up support for the big fight on Saturday and engaging Government and the corporate world to support Manyuchi in his battle for the crown.

Delegation leader and operations manager of Oriental Quarries, Christopher Malunga, said the country needed to support this promising boxer with a chance to become a world champion.

“The young man needs all the support we can garner. Like a wedding, this (fighting for a world title) comes once in one’s lifetime and has to be organised properly,” said Malunga.

“Through your ambassador’s office in Lusaka, we have been linked with a number of ministries and their subsidiaries such as the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority so that you, too, can have a piece of the cake when Charles takes to the ring on March 15.

“This could be in the form of mileage and image building for your country, as prominent television stations will be there to flight the fight to the world.

“So why not have it screened on your local television channel too?”