admin
Tadious Manyepo Sports Reporter
ICONIC boxer Charles Manyuchi is giving his fans in Chivhu yet another opportunity to say goodbye before he hangs his gloves with a farewell bout against Malawi’s Alick Gogodo at the Phil Jen Lodges on Friday.
The former World Boxing Council silver welterweight champion is marching towards retirement from the sport that gave him both fame and fortune.
But instead of engaging in a once-off swansong, the 34-year-old has decided to hold a series of farewell fights dubbed “Grand Finale(s)” against different boxers across different venues across the country.
And the Grand Finale Part 2 series will see the Masvingo-based pugilist coming face to face against Gogodo at the very venue owned by his anchor sponsor Prosper Chibaya.
The latter is also the director of the Charles Manyuchi Boxing Academy, which is promoting the showdown whose undercard also carries potential thrillers given the calibre of boxers involved.
The Grand Finale Part 1 was also held in the Mashonaland East town and saw Manyuchi overpowering another Malawian Limbani Lano some four months ago.
The fighter said the Grand Finale Part 2 has been taken to Chivhu once again to afford those who missed the opening series a chance to see him in action for one last time.
“The Grand Finale Series are generally meant to say goodbye to my fans across the country. “I am fighting in different locations just to give everyone a chance to see me in the ring for one last time,” said Manyuchi.
“We held the first farewell fight in Chivhu in July and some people failed to turn up for the occassion.
“This is my town and I have so much attachment with it. So we decided to give people there another bite at the cherry so they can see me in action. “We will be taking the series to all corners of the country before I retire and venture into something else”.
He promised to see off his adversary and pleaded with Zimbabweans to attend the event in their numbers.
“Zimbabweans have always supported me and I am who I am today because of their support,” he said. “I am humbly calling upon them to show up in Chivhu and I am promising them the same thing that I have done in the past.
“I will floor my opponent. I am training hard for the bout and fans should be prepared to celebrate our victory”.
Besides Manyuchi’s duel with Gogodo, there are also good looking match-ups that will likely set Chivhu alight on the night.
Brendan Denes, who showed so much potential in the initial stages of his career looks very much back on track but his credentials will be put to test by Zambia’s Bernard Sepe.
The latter is increasingly popular in Zambia and his fight against Denes is regarded as one of the biggest drawcards on the night.
Freeman Mabvongwe will be up against Ali Kadeya of the Democratic Republic of Congo while Tatenda Biningu takes on Mombela Mukuni of Zambia.
Grand Finale 2 Bout Card
Freeman Mabvongwe v Ali Kabeya (DRC), Tafadzwa Mushando v Ignatious Mutale(Zambia), Tafadzwa Chikerema v Given Dhaure, Evans Usayihwevhu v Hollyce Kazembe(Malawi), Brendan Denes v Benard Sepe (Zambia)), John Andrew v Loyd Mujibilikwa (Zambia)
Munyaradzi Manyuchi v Ian Kachepa, Clever Sithole v Sherrif Kasonga (DRC), Tatenda Biningu v Mombela Mukuni (Zambia), Manyuchi v Alick Gogodo(Malawi)
Online Reporter