adminLangton Nyakwenda Sports Reporter
TONIGHT is the night of reckoning for Charles Manyuchi. The World Boxing Council International welterweight champion defends his title against Italian Gianluca Frezza at Sequals, Friuli-Venezia, in Italy tonight. The match starts at 9:30pm local time. Manyuchi has been in Italy since Monday and yesterday he told The Herald he was raring to go and vowed not to buckle under pressure.
This is his first fight outside Africa, his biggest bill and one that could put the 25-year-old pugilist on the global boxing market should he come out victorious.
“I am ready for the fight. Yes, Frezza will be fighting in front of his home fans but that won’t scare me, I am the champion.
“I want to come out of Italy with my belt, I promise Zimbabweans that I will try my best. I will not crumble.
“I know how important this fight is for me, in terms of getting better opportunities for big money fights in future, so I can’t afford to lose.
“I do not know much about him (Frezza) but as a champion he should be the one to study me,” boasted Manyuchi.
Frezza (35) is a former WBC Mediterranean welterweight champion whose record stands at 23-2-2, while Manyuchi bettered his record to 16-2-1 when he knocked out Tanzania’s Ibrahimu Class in 57 seconds in a non-title fight in May.
Manyuchi has also broken into the top 20 on the WBC welterweight rankings and is unbeaten in his last 14 fights.
He has won six of those by way of knockout including the second round victory over Devis Caceres of Colombia in his first WBC International title defence in Zambia last November.
Manyuchi rose to international prominence in March 2014 when he defeated Ghanaian Patrick Allotey to land the WBC International welterweight crown.
Online Reporter