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Lovemore Dube Senior Sports Editor
CHARLES Manyuchi’s march towards boxing greatness received another seal of approval when he won the World Boxing Council International welterweight title in Lusaka, Zambia, on Saturday night.The Masvingo boxer, ranked 93rd in the world won through an eighth round technical knockout decision. According to reports from Zambia, the Masvingo pugilist dominated the fight to post a famous victory over the West African who had not lost in his previous 30 fights.
Going into the fight, Allotey was favourite with a more illustrious record and better ranking in the world. The Ghana boxer is ranked 78th and has fought more than double Manyuchi’s tally of 14.
The West African’s camp is said to have however contested fight referee Sylvia Mokaida’s decision to stop the match.
Allotey is said to have gone down to the canvas without a punch or a push. He touched both gloves.
The under pressure Ghanaian had in the fourth round been docked a point for holding, pushing and punching Manyuchi at the back of the head which is in violation of professional boxing rules.
Manyuchi and his opponent were punished for the same offence in the eighth round.
Manyuchi sent a flurry of blows in the round and exactly two minutes 34 seconds the contest was over with history seemingly beckoning for the Zimbabwean.
It was a good night of boxing for Manyuchi’s camp Oriental Quarries as Zambian female boxer Catherine Phiri became WBC bantamweight silver champion.
She knocked out Germany born PIA Mazelenik in the third of 10 rounds in a bill held at the Zambian Government Complex.
With a top 100 billing, Manyuchi is now ripe for competition from South Africa and the rest of the world.
He holds the African Boxing Union title over the same weight division. If his camp is serious about getting him to the world stage, a fight with any of Bethuel Ushona of Namibia (22nd), Kaizer Mabuza (60th), Tsiko Mulovhedzi (56th) and the continent’s best ranked Chris Van Heerden who like the other two is from South Africa, could open up avenues for him towards what would be a dream world title with Floyd Mayweather.
Manyuchi however is still half-a- dozen fights away from that as he would need to trade leather with many boxers in the top 50 to earn his day with the sport’s best.
Meanwhile, Mordicai Donga has congratulated Manyuchi. The Bigfish Boxing Promotions stable boss said Manyuchi had done the country proud.
Donga who fought and won one and lost another to Manyuchi predicted after his 2011 loss that Manyuchi was headed for the stars.
Veteran trainer Phillip Striker Ndlovu also weighed in with the praises for the 25-year-old.
“He has done his country and boxing a lot of good marketing. Congratulations to him for the sterling job he continues to do for our sport,” said Striker.
Online Reporter