Manyuchi, sheds weight

Augustine Hwata Sports Reporter
WORLD Boxing Council welterweight (bronze) champion Charles Manyuchi feels he has worked very hard to shed off 10kg over the past month as he prepares to defend his title.

Manyuchi, who made history by becoming the first Zimbabwean to win a world boxing title after defeating Patrick Allotey of Ghana in February, said he weighed 76kg four weeks ago instead of the stipulated 67kg for the division.

He is in Lusaka, Zambia, where he is preparing to face Columbia’s Deivis Casseres at the Lusaka Government Complex on November 22.

“My preparations are on course. I have now managed to reduce weight and will be working on other aspects as well,” said Manyuchi.

“I was a bit overweight last month. I think I was at 76kg and I have since come down to 66,6kg which is okay.”

The boxer is training at Oriental Quarries Boxing stable, under Chris Malunga, and believes he is ready to face his South American opponent.

“I do not know him and will not bother to look for his videos or tapes. I sometimes think that seeing videos of an opponent before a bout can create a wrong mental impression.

“I might end up developing fear. So I will just meet him in the ring and do my best,” said Manyuchi.

The bout will be Manyuchi’s first defence of the WBC belt and the Zimbabwean also holds the African Boxing Union title.

Monalisa Sibanda and Anywhere Katunga will battle in undercards matches.

Katunga, who trains under the Mosquito Boxing Promotions, faces Zambia’s Alfred Mawowo in a flyweight contest while Sibanda will take on Loreta Muzeya in a bantamweight match over six rounds.

Sibanda, making a return to the square ring after nearly two years, lost the last meeting between the two boxers.

Former secretary to the Zimbabwe Boxing Control Board, Patrick Mukondiwa, will also be involved as he is one of the judges in the Manyuchi/Casseres fight.

He will also be one of the judges in the World Boxing Council (silver) bantamweight women’s division match involving Catherine Phiri of Zambia and Bukiwe Nonina of South Africa.