Sundaymail Editor
Langton Nyakwenda
Sports Reporter
REGARDED as a “hard-punching” veteran by the World Boxing Federation, Ugandan boxer Muhamad Sebyala arrives in Zimbabwe today carrying an ignominious away record, as he attempts to dethrone local golden boy Charles Manyuchi.
The 32-year-old Manyuchi, holder of the WBF World Middleweight belt, is now finally set to defend his title against Sebyala (41) at the Flamboyant Hotel in Masvingo on Saturday evening.
Weigh in is at the same venue on Friday and the bill is promoted by Takudzwa Chibaya of the Charles Manyuchi Academy.
And Sebyala, 19-13-1, arrives in the country today with a poor away record as the Ugandan has never won a fight outside his preferred hunting ground in Kampala.
He has been to Dubai, New Delhi, Moscow, Nuremberg, Nairobi, Windhoek and Dar es Salaam, but those excursions have brought no victory for Sebyala, who made his professional debut in 2007.
Sebyala lost his recent fight in Dubai, against an upstart Abilkhaiyr Shegaliyer of Kazakhstan, 8-0-0, on November 22, 2019.
However, that hasn’t distracted Manyuchi, who is aiming to keep the WBF World Middleweight belt, his most prized possession, having lost the World Boxing Council Silver Welterweight title in 2017.
Manyuchi won the vacant WBF belt after a third round stoppage of former champion Diego Diaz Gallardo of Argentina at the Harare International Conference Centre on September 29, 2019.
The Covid-19 pandemic has since prevented Manyuchi from defending his title since then and recent tightening measures by the Government had also threatened this fight. The Government, however, gave the Charles Manyuchi Academy the greenlight to host the boxing show, albeit under strict Covid-19 protocols and the pugilist is a relieved man.
“I want to thank the Zimbabwean Government for allowing me to defend my WBF title.
“The only way I can thank the Government and Zimbabweans at large, for supporting me, is by beating Sebyala.
“He is coming here to lose, there is no way Charles Manyuchi will lose, especially in Masvingo where it all started,” a confident Manyuchi said.
This is the first time the boxer is staging a title fight in Masvingo since he turned professional in 2009.
He fought twice in the country’s oldest town, against Silas Mandeya, but those were non-title bouts.
Finally, Manyuchi will now defend his title in Masvingo in a historic show that will also see undefeated local prospect Tinashe Majoni, 4-0, facing Malawian Yusuf Ali, 7-8-1, for the WBF Intercontinental Flyweight title.
It was in Masvingo where Manyuchi’s professional career kicked off, thanks to Edison Zvobgo Jr, who is hosting this WBF bill.
“A win will also go a long way in thanking Zvogbo Jr for what he did for me. I am who I am today because of him.
“I was a nobody when he discovered me, he helped me turn professional and today I am an internationally recognised boxer.
“I have been training well, we are into the last week and I am getting sharper. I am sure by Friday I will be within weight,” Manyuchi said.
Manyuchi was by Friday still 4kg out of his weight, but is confident his Zambian trainer Greeting Kaonga will take care of “the little issue.”
Bout Card:
Charles Manyuchi v Muhamad Sebyala (Uganda), Kudakwashe Chiwandire v Cecilia Pitiseni, Lolita Muzeya (Zambia) v Violet Phiri (Zambia), Tatenda Biningu v Ronald Tamani, Freeman Mabvongwe v Tinashe Zihove, Lemmy Simbeye (Zambia) v Philip Musariri, Evans Usavihwevhu v Baison Gwayani (Malawi), Hassan Milanzi v Yemikani Mkandawire (Malawi), Tinashe Majoni v Yusuf Ali (Malawi).
Online Reporter