Tamuka’s big fight off

Collin Matiza Sports Editor
THE much-anticipated English welterweight title fight between Zimbabwe-born boxer Tamuka Muchapondwa and John O’Donell, which was scheduled for October 20 in London, is off again. Muchapondwa, who is based in Reading, revealed on Thursday that his title fight with O’Donell has been called off after the latter yet again sustained an undisclosed injury during training earlier this week.

And Muchapondwa (24), who left Zimbabwe for England when he was 11, said he was “gutted” by the latest development as he was looking at “beating the lights out of O’Donell” and wrest the English welterweight title away from him next weekend.

“Words cannot describe how gutted I am to share this news – but I am deeply sorry to once again announce that my October 20 English title fight with John O’Donell is officially cancelled due to an injury sustained by O’Donell. At the Press conference for this fight, a member of my team asked John if he was fit and ready and he responded positively. I haven’t seen any medical documentation to validate John’s injury claims and only go on the assumption that’s it’s genuine but I remain dubious.

“I will continue working diligently until my time arrives. My sincerest apologies to all the fans who purchased tickets for my fight. I wish John a speedy recovery,” read part of Muchapondwa’s statement released from his base in Reading on Thursday. Muchapondwa’s fight against O’Donell was intially set for September 9 in London but was rescheduled to October 20 after the latter had sustained an injury during training.

The October 20 fight had also been set as a final eliminator for the main British title. It was going to be the main supporting bout of Commonwealth and Olympic Games medallist Joe Joyce’s heavyweight professional debut against Ian Lewison. Muchapondwa (16-1, 4KOs) had already stepped up his preparations for the October 20 bout but he now has to wait a little bit longer before he steps back into the ring and fight for the English welterweight title. Although Muchapondwa has been based in England for the past 13 years, he recently told The Herald that he still regards himself as a Zimbabwean at heart.

“…I want to make sure I’m representing Zimbabwe in a great way and that the people (there) recognise me as their champ,” Muchapondwa recently said from his base in England before the cancellation of his October 20 fight against Briton O’Donell.