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Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
FOLLOWING her successful defence of the World Boxing Council super-bantamweight interim title with victory over Mexican challenger Zulina Munoz at the Harare International Conference Centre early yesterday, Kudakwashe “Take Money” Chiwandire now has a shot at the WBC Gold belt.
Chiwandire won through a unanimous decision by the judges and is now a mandatory challenger for the WBC main belt. A feat which she is excited about. She will face either number one ranked Yeimi Yamleth Mercardo or Mariana Barby Juarez in a gold title fight at a later date.
“It makes me feel great because I am the only woman in Zimbabwe raising the Zimbabwean flag high. I am not going to stop, I am going to do more. This sport is very important to me. I would like to thank my fans for their support. They made it easy for me to win through their encouragement in the build up to the fight. I am getting more experience because I was fighting an experienced boxer.
I used this match as preparation for other bouts to come,” said Chiwandire.
Deputy Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Tino Machakaire, in his own capacity pledged US$20 000 for Chiwandire in addition to the same amount for winning the bout. Zororo Phumulani also pledged a winning bonus of US$1 000 for the pugilist.
Chiwandire grabbed the prestigious bantamweight interim title on 26 February after defeating Catherine Phiri of Zambia. The victory saw her automatically become the highest ranked female boxer in Africa, across all weight categories and the only female boxer currently holding a World Boxing Council title on the African continent.
The milestone also ensured she became the highest ranked Zimbabwean boxer in the history of boxing in this country. Chiwandire is now Zimbabwe’s most successful boxer ever, male or female, in terms of level of titles won.
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Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter