adminAugustine Hwata Sports Reporter
WHEN Charles Manyuchi took on Patrick Allotey from Ghana for the World Boxing Council welterweight international belt in Lusaka, one woman was very edgy on her seat right from the first bell.
Irene Manyuchi, the boxer’s mother, feared for her son who took to the square ring despite carrying a broken finger.
During the week The Saturday Herald, caught up with Irene, who is now celebrating her son’s triumph.
Irene is married to Otis Manyuchi, who was the Zimbabwe light-middleweight champion just before the turn of the millennium.
“I was very worried because he was not in the best state of health. He had injured his hand at training. I know that he is a greater boxer but he was handicapped by the injury.
“So, I was very anxious, sitting by the ring side and watching my son, at times taking the punishment from the opponent, especially in the early round,” said Irene.
Irene’s concern was heightened by the fact that three other Zimbabwean pugilists – Monalisa Sibanda, Chamunorwa Gonorenda and Takudzwa Kuchocha – had been pummeled into submission in the earlier supporting bouts.
“Charles could have won the match by a knock out in the second round, but the fight dragged on until the eighth round.
“At times I was worried that my son was going to lose.
“With the pain he was feeling, I could tell he could not throw very good punches to knock out his opponent,” said Irene.
Allotey, who was undefeated in 31 fights, winning 24 of them by knockout, started the match with several body bunches.
“I am very happy that he is a now world champion and if he was still a baby, I could have strapped him to my back. As a mother, I am overjoyed,” said Irene.
“I met Otis (the father) when he was a boxer and when he used to train his stable that had Monalisa Sibanda and Diana Makumbe. At times I used to help with sparring.
“If Otis was not around, sometimes he could leave a programme for the boxers. Right now age has caught up with me and I am no longer heavily involved in boxing.
“Charles is the fourth born among the seven children and all of them at some point took up boxing. The first born is Mudawose, and then comes Tendai, Loveness, Charles, Jacqueline, Otis and the last born is Munyaradzi.
“Their father is a boxing trainer so, all the children at some point, took up boxing but it’s Charles who has shown the zeal to pursue the sport further. Jacqueline and Otis quit recently,” said Irene.
Charles, who carries a bible into the boxing ring before each bout, is recently married and has one child.
The boxer said have since revealed that his dream is to get the prestigious World Boxing Council diamond belt held by Floyd Mayweather.
“Ever since I took up boxing, it had been my dream to be a world champion and I am happy that I have achieved the feat.
“I looked at Mosquito Zvenyika and Langton Schoolboy as the success stories from Zimbabwe.
“It had been small steps because I was a national champion, then I became a continental champion, fighting with the Zambian stable, and now I am a world champion.
“I think I have been given a mandatory six months but the ultimate aim is the prestigious belt in the division which is held by Mayweather
“My dream is to fight Mayweather. I do not fear Mayweather because one day he will taste defeat. Just like the guy from Ghana, Patrick Allottey, was undefeated but I managed to win the fight” said Manyuchi.
Online Reporter