tawandamusarurwa
Langton Nyakwenda
CHARLES Manyuchi rose from being a casual sugarcane cutter to become an internationally recognised athlete in the sweet science of boxing.
At the peak of his powers, he was a World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver welterweight champion.
At some point, it seemed likely that he would fight against the legendary Floyd Mayweather.
His professional career kicked off at Raylton Sports Club on Valentine’s Day in 2009 and will end on May 27, when he defends his World Boxing Federation world middleweight title for the last time.
Dubbed “Grand Finale”, Manyuchi’s duel with DR Congo’s Sheriff Kasongo will draw the curtain on a 14-year-old boxing journey that took him to Zambia, Namibia, South Africa, Burkina Faso, Italy, Russia and Singapore.
The 33-year-old boxer announced his retirement on Thursday.
He was less emotional, probably reserving the tears for the final bout.
However, it was clear that inasmuch as the sport, which he learnt from his father, Ottis, was hugely rewarding, he still has some regrets.
Ottis is a former boxer, who also served in the Zimbabwe National Army at various bases, including Bulawayo, where Charles was born.
“It has been a long journey; the bad and the good have happened along the way, but I will say more after the final bout in May,” Manyuchi said.
“But boxing changed my life for the better.
“Most people don’t know that at some point I was a sugarcane cutter in Triangle, where we also used to pack sugar.
“I went through a lot in life until boxing transformed my life.”
Manyuchi was discovered by Eddison Zvobgo Jr at one of the National Youth Games in the early 2000s.
He won five gold medals at the Games, before turning professional with a unanimous decision win over Isaac Phokeni on February 14, 2009.
Manyuchi now has 30 fights and will hang up his gloves after his 31st bout.
His current record is: 25 wins (four by way of knockouts), four losses and one draw.
His first fight outside Zimbabwe was a points win against Edson Kandukwa at the Nampower Convention Centre in Windhoek, Namibia, on July 4, 2009.
“I still remember that fight a lot. I was praying and praying before the fight,” he says.
He then captured his first international belt in his 15th professional fight, when he beat Patrice Soul Token in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, to claim the African Boxing Union welterweight belt on June 28, 2013.
On March 15, 2014, he moved a step up, winning the WBC International welterweight title at the expense of Isaac Sowah of Ghana in Lusaka, Zambia.
His exploits in the ring captured the imagination of Zambians.
They were so charmed by his boxing exploits that they offered him citizenship, an overture that he politely turned down.
But he remained under Zambian promoters Oriental Quarries, whose manager Chris Malunga paid tribute to the Zimbabwean boxer last week.
“I am very proud of your record — WBC Silver, WBC International and African Boxing Union champion; that’s not an easy journey, but you made sure you followed the rules that were put forward for you to achieve,” Malunga said.
“You did not only achieve it on behalf of Zimbabwe, but you achieved it on behalf of Africa, because very few African boxers have gone such far, and you are one of them who made Africa proud.”
After defending his WBC International welterweight title against Gianlucca Frezza in Sequals, Italy, on July 18, 2015, Manyuchi was given US$50 000 by former President Robert Mugabe at a colourful ceremony at State House.
That win was Manyuchi’s first on European soil.
He went further, as he captured the WBC Silver title with a memorable win over Dmitry Mikhaylenko of Russia in Ekaterinburg on May 6, 2016.
However, Manyuchi sank to his lowest a year later, losing the title in embarrassing fashion after he was knocked out in the first round by Qudratillo Abduqaxorov of Uzbekistan in Singapore on March 25, 2017.
His contract with Oriental Quarries also lapsed and was not renewed.
Twitter: @LangtonGuraz
Online Reporter