tawandamusarurwa
Langton Nyakwenda
“Some of the Mexican fans mobbed Chiwandire as she walked back to the dressing room after the contest, while others stampeded for selfies with the Zimbabwean star.
The fight was screened live across Mexico on the popular network Azteca 7.”
THE statistics from the epic fight in Chihuahua, Mexico, on March 18 will leave Zimbabwean boxer Kudakwashe “Take Money” Chiwandire feeling a sense of victory.
The star pugilist lost the World Boxing Council (WBC) Super bantamweight world title fight against champion Yamileth Mercado of Mexico by a unanimous but close points decision.
Judge Bardo Flores scored 94-96 against Chiwandire, Elena Garay had it at 93-98 and Juan Reyes gave Mercado the fight with a 98-92 points win.
The bout was watched by millions of people across the globe.
About 12 000 fans thronged the Gimnasio Manuel Bernardo Aguirre to watch one of the biggest female boxing matches.
Some of the Mexican fans mobbed Chiwandire as she walked back to the dressing room after the contest, while others stampeded for selfies with the Zimbabwean star.
The fight was screened live across Mexico on the popular network Azteca 7.
By Friday, the fight had almost 120 000 views on YouTube.
With four WBC female world champions, Mexico can be regarded as a boxing powerhouse, and, as such, Chiwandire could as well have marketed herself to a global audience.
The 27-year-old is now rated the seventh best Super bantamweight boxer in the world by Boxrec.
She is effectively the best African female boxer in this category, judging by boxers’ performances in the past year.
Veteran boxing promoter Stalin Mau believes the Zimbabwean “did not lose” the fight.
“I still feel that it was unfortunate that she lost. However, it’s not unexpected as well, because, at the end of the day, she was fighting a champion,” Mau told The Sunday Mail Sport.
Mau has been in boxing for over three decades and promoted former international champions such as Arifonso “Mosquito” Zvenyika, who won the Commonwealth flyweight title in 1998.
“The champion (Mercado) had all the advantage: she had the experience, she was fighting on home soil and there is always a home-ground advantage in sport.
“But Kuda (Chiwandire) performed very well, so she really did not lose. I can assure you that she registered her presence in the boxing world.”
Although Chiwandire’s handlers are yet to reveal their next plan, The Sunday Mail Sport has gathered that some Mexican promoters were excited by the Zimbabwean boxer.
Chiwandire marketed herself to a bigger audience than just Mexicans.
“Obviously, you are aware that the fight was seen by millions of people around the world and it is going to be seen by more on various platforms like YouTube,” added Mau.
“And promoters across the world are going to take serious notice of her. That’s why I am saying she really did not lose.”
The boxer put up a gutsy performance despite arriving in Mexico on the day of the fight.
Delays in visas and cancellation of flights were some of the odds that worked against her.
She did not have time to acclimatise or rest but she still managed to stretch Mercado to the limit.
“The issue of winning or losing is not really as important as the level of presence she registered on the international boxing scene.”
The veteran promoter feels Chiwandire’s prospects are “very bright”, only if the boxer “maintains her discipline”.
“She needs to keep her head high . . .
“I am very happy that since the win in Zambia (against Catherine Phiri), Chiwandire has become a lot more focused and a lot more hardworking.”
Chiwandire beat Phiri to clinch the WBC Interim Super bantamweight title in February 2022.
She successfully defended the belt against Zulina Munoz of Mexico in Harare in October.
That win then earned her the right to challenge for the gold belt.
“Chiwandire is now more dedicated and high-spirited. The future is very bright and it’s entirely up to her how she handles fame and fortune.
“Those two things — fame and fortune — can ruin you, as well as build you,” warned Mau.
Twitter: @LangtonGuraz
Online Reporter