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CHARLES MANYUCHI has been put on a strict diet, which will see him mainly surviving on roasted corn (maputi) and black tea as the WBC silver welterweight champion prepares for his March 25 title defence.
The Zimbabwean boxing star, who takes on Asian champion Qudratillo Abduqaxorov in Singapore, begins serious training at a secluded camp house in Lusaka, Zambia tomorrow carrying a weight of 79kg – about 13 more than the maximum allowable for the welterweight division.
The standard weight for Manyuchi’s division is 66,67kg.
The 26-year-old boxer will be subjected to intensive training which includes 10km roadruns under the watchful eye of trainer Mike “Weaver” Zulu at a camp where visitors will be limited.
“I am going into hell now … the real deal begins now,” Manyuchi told The Sunday Mail Sport just before he left for Lusaka last Friday.
Manyuchi last fought in October 14, 2016 when he knocked out Jose Agustin Feria of Colombia in 2 minutes 42 seconds at the Harare International Conference Centre.
He now has to work on his bulge and burn the fat.
“I have packed a lot of maputi in my car boot and I will also have more tea. No more fats and no more fizzy drinks. My weight is no issue though because my coach knows how to deal with it expeditiously. It’s work and more work from now onwards,” said Manyuchi whose record stands at 20-2-1.
The WBC silver welterweight champion is ranked among the top four boxers capable of challenging for the gold belt held by Danny Garcia of the United States.
Manyuchi is rated 22nd among the 2 217 rated welterweight boxers in the world.
He will defend his title against Abduqaxorov, whose record improved to 9-0-0 after a knockout victory over lowly-ranked Filipino pugilist Romeo Jakosalem in Malaysia on January 7.
Manyuchi is expected to leave Zambia for Singapore on March 15 for his first fight in Asia amid reports that the promoters of the fight Cartel Promotions have billed the bout as the best ever in that part of the world.
Online Reporter