adminTadious Manyepo Sports Reporter
KUDAKWASHE “Take Money” Chiwandire will face Mexican Yamileth Mercado for the World Boxing Council super-bantamweight main title after the latter defended her crown on Saturday night.
Chiwandire, who became the mandatory challenger for the prestigious gong following her successful defence of her WBC interim stripe against another Mexican Zulina Munoz a fortnight ago in Harare, has been waiting to know her next opponent for the apex belt.
And the holder Mercado managed to retain the title for the fifth time when defeating compatriot challenger Mariana Juarez in Mexico City on points in Mexico City on Saturday.
Mercado was good value for the victory after dominating her opponent with the judges scoring the fight 98-92 and two cards identically recording 97-93 all in favour of the champion.
Mercado, who is nicknamed “Barbie”, is now on an impressive record of 20-3-0, from which five of the wins are KOs.
And Chiwandire can now start her preparation journey knowing exactly the status of the opponent she will come across in her bid to land the WBC main belt.
She is expected back in the gym this week as she starts to ready for the fight which is scheduled for February next year.
Chiwandire said she was following Saturday’s fight with keen interest and she got a glimpse of how Mercado engages in the ring.
“She is a good fighter, without any doubt, but the most important thing is I got to know who I am going to face as I go for the main belt,” Chiwandire said.
“I needed to know the identity of my opponent.
“It’s been more than two weeks since I qualified to be the mandatory challenger for the WBC gold. I finally got to know who I am going to fight on Saturday.
“Mercado is a top boxer but that is as far as we can describe her. I am starting my preparations right now and I hope to outwit her.”
Meanwhile, Hassan “Starboy” Milanzi lost in a unified WBO/WBA Africa super-bantamweight showdown against Namibia’s Mateus Heita at the Ramatex in Windhoek on Saturday.
Milanzi’s fight was one of the supporting bouts to the main fight which pitted Filipus Nghitumbwa of Namibia and South Africa’s Sabelo Ngebinyange who faced off in the WBO global belt.
Milanzi lost via a TKO as his corner threw in the towel while he was being overwhelmed in the sixth round.
Online Reporter