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Langton Nyakwenda
THE fruitful relationship between boxing champion Charles Manyuchi and Oriental Quarries of Zambia broke down after the pugilist failed to remit to his promoters 25 percent of the $50 000 he received from President Mugabe as stipulated by the contract he signed, The Sunday Mail has established.
Oriental Quarries last week confirmed they were not going to renew their contract with Manyuchi following its lapsing on November 19.
Although they did not give reasons impeccable sources revealed that the Zambians were not amused by Manyuchi’s failure to adhere to Article 5 of the contract they had with him.
The section dealt with net receipts and stated that the boxer was entitled to 75 percent of the net receipts with the remainder going into the promoter’s pocket.
It read: “Net receipts shall mean such money as are from time to time received in connection with any of the events or received from testimonials or other sources incidental to the boxer’s profession.”
“Oriental Quarries therefore felt aggrieved after Manyuchi failed to remit 25 percent of the $50 000 he received from President Mugabe at a banquet held at State House on July 30,” a source revealed.
The Zambian boxing stable’s manager Chris Malunga chose to be diplomatic when reached for comment.
“Whether there was a problem or not, we are professionals who do not talk about such (issues)in the press.
“We don’t want a situation where prospective promoters will say to Manyuchi ‘so this is what you did to your previous handlers,” he said.
Malunga instead said they are leaving him at the best possible time and wished Manyuchi a prosperous future.
“I believe in leaving someone when he is a champion, not when he is not a champion because that will be very sad,” he said.
“Somebody who is not a champion cannot attract promoters, but someone like him will attract promoters. We wish him all the best, he is our boy, we lifted him from a non title boxer to a pugilist who now has two titles (ABU and WBC).
“We are leaving him there and I believe it is fair. Those who want to take him are free to do so but we are saying ‘please do not abuse our boy’, we still love him.”
Manyuchi, who has been linked with an American promoter, now has to find a new stable that will host his next mandatory defence in February next year.
There have also been reports linking prominent Namibian promoter Nestor Tobias with the boxer but Manyuchi insists he will only begin to ponder about his future after Christmas.“I will talk about the future after Christmas but I would like to thank the Zambians for making me a champion. I was poor but they made me who I am…a champion who was hosted by the President of his country,” said Manyuchi.
Online Reporter