Manyuchi distances himself from tourney

Gilbert Munetsi Sports Correspondent
FORMER WBC silver boxing champion Charles Manyuchi has distanced himself from a tournament dubbed ”King of the Ring Ghetto Explosion” pencilled in for the Netball Complex in Mbare on November 25. He said he would not be part of the show.

”Much as I appreciate the strides by various stakeholders to develop the sport of boxing in Zimbabwe, I take instructions from my managers in Zambia. I have not received any communication to that effect (that I will be part of this tournament), so any news or advertisements to give the impression that I’m participating is something that has not been consented to by my handlers, otherwise I would have heard from them.” The organisers, at a press conference held at a local hotel early this week, suggested Manyuchi would be part of the show and Arifonso ”Mosquito” Zvenyika would be corner man.

Other reports also erroneously announced a mismatch where Manyuchi was said to be fighting ”two-time Commonwealth” champion Collen Mavhundutse in a bantamweight tussle. Mavhundutse is yet to turn pro with just two amateur losses to his record and is also a heavyweight boxer, while Manyuchi is in the welterweight division. The throwing in of the former champion’s name could probably be a bid to sell the fight whose card includes a national title and seven supporting bouts.

According to a poster distributed by the promoters, companies that are bankrolling the event are Gypsite, YAD, Et Cetera Media Advertisers and TopTeam. What could have riled Manyuchi, who turned down an offer of a seat that had his name at the high table at the press conference where the boxing sanctioning board was conspicuous by its absence, is that his name could be tarnished. Manyuchi and Zambia’s Oriental Quarries Boxing Promotions have a binding contract first penned and signed in November 20 2012.

The contract signed by Manyuchi and Oriental Quarries gives the stable, represented by Christopher Malunga, the mandate to “use his endeavours to arrange for the boxer a proper programme of boxing contests, matches and exhibitions and other professional engagements and events which may include but shall be in no way limited radio, television or other suitable product, preparation or commodity recommendations and advertisements”.

The boxer is also obliged to be exclusively managed by Oriental Quarries and prohibited from engaging in any other arrangement with any other manager, person or business organisation (company) without prior written consent from Oriental Quarries Boxing Promotions. Meanwhile, 33-year-old Zimbawean Chamunorwa Gonorenda, who recently claimed the vacant WBFcruiserweight title by beating Tanzanian Kaminja Ramadhan at the Kola Koda-promoted tournament at the Harare International Conference Centre, will be defending his title against Tschanda Tschama of the DRC. The fight is scheduled for the Wynberg Military Base, Cape Town, on November 24.