adminTadious Manyepo-Sports Reporter
STAR Zimbabwe female boxer Kudakwashe “Take Money” Chiwandire can climb the ladder to the top again.
But she has to navigate a tricky road between this month and March next year to secure her path.
Chiwandire is currently rock bottom having not been in the ring since losing her WBC super-bantamweight gold title fight to Mexican Yamileth Mercado early last year.
She had been able to challenge for the ultimate honours after winning the WBC interim belt when defeating Zambia’s Catherine Phiri before defending the badge against another Mexican Zulina Munoz.
But after losing out on her bid to win the gold stripe, Chiwandire went under and has been silent until recently when an opportunity to fight for the WBF intercontinental belt against South Africa’s Nomusa Ngema in Durban popped up.
However, the bout, which was billed to take place at KwaZulu Natal Dundee on Saturday last week was then cancelled at the 11th hour.
But Chiwandire has since been given the nod to start building on a re-match against Mercado with her management team putting together two strong fights in Russia next month and a WBC Africa bout at home early next year.
Chiwandire will first shake off the rust in a non-title fight against Tanzania’s Flora Machela on October 27 in Lilongwe, Malawi before she flies off to Russia to take on Tatiana Ezekiel exactly 15 days later.
The continent’s Number One ranked pound-for-pound female boxer then clashes with the second-best in that regard, Ellen Simwaka of Malawi for the WBC Africa belt on March 29 in Harare next year.
A win in this showdown will see Chiwandire securing a re-match against Mercado.
Her fight against Simwaka will be the major highlight during an all-female “Girl Child Championing Change” initiative on Women’s Day on March 29 next year.
Deltaforce Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts Academy, which is promoting the fight with their boss Clyde Musonda, also managing Chiwandire from the Malawi fight said in a statement that the bout would mark “Take Money’s official return to the ring.
“The bout aims to celebrate the Women’s achievements, strength, and endurance through sport.
“Furthermore, the initiative to be held during Women’s Month will serve as a come-back platform for “Take Money” as she prepares to contest for a rematch of the World Boxing Council (WBC) World Championship title,” read the statement.
“A former World Boxing Council (WBC) interim super bantamweight world title winner who in October 2022 secured a mandatory world title challenge against Yamileth Mercado of Mexico, Kudakwashe “Take Money” Chiwandire needs to face two highly-rated opponents to successfully contest for a rematch for the WBC World Championship title after a very controversial loss in Chihuahua, Mexico.
“It is our utmost plea to all the valued stakeholders to come on board as we seek to drive the growth, recognition, and development of the sport, the girl child, and women in sports.” Chiwandire is currently engaged in intensive training ahead of what will be her first fight since that loss in Mexico, as he prepares for the bout against Machela in Malawi next week.
Online Reporter