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Tadious Manyepo-Sports Reporter
ICONIC Zimbabwean boxer Charles Manyuchi has begun preparations for his much-anticipated swansong on the positive after scooping a huge award in South Africa.
The 34-year-old former World Boxing Council silver welter-weight champion will be bringing the curtain down on his illustrious career when he defends his World Boxing Federation middleweight belt against Sheriff Kasongo of the DR Congo on May 27.
And the pugilist is walking with a spring in his step after he landed the WBF Boxer of the Year award during the organisation’s convention held in Cape Town, South Africa, recently.
“It’s a pleasure and an honour to be rewarded by such a big institution for what I have done in the ring over the past.
“I am very happy to be receiving this medal from the WBF and I would like to salute them for this gesture,” said Manyuchi.
“Look, there can never be any greater feeling than receiving this huge award less than two months before I fight for one last time.
“I would like to thank everyone for the support and I hope and believe that this will also inspire other upcoming boxers to stay focused and concentrate on this sport.
“I am very happy for myself, for the Charles Manyuchi Boxing Academy and the general boxing fraternity. This is not my award, it’s our award, collectively.”
Manyuchi said the award will help improve his confidence going into the match against Kasongo.
“I have not been in the ring for too long. But I belong to the ring. So this award will help me raise my confidence going into this fight against Kasongo.
“It will help me prepare for this last supper which is coming on May 27. I feel boosted for it with this award in hand.”
Dubbed “The Grand Finale”, Manyuchi’s last fight has attracted global interest with all sanctioning bodies whose belts have been won by the pugilist in his career all scheduled to present replica belts to arguably the greatest boxer to emerge from this country. The honorary stripes are expected to come from the WBC and Africa Boxing Union among others.
The Chivhu-based boxer’s bout will have two title fights on the undercard as well.
Tatenda Biningu will defend his WBF and WABA titles against Malawian Yamikani Mukandiware while Evans Usavihwevhu takes on Salim Chazama also of Malawi for the right to retain his WBF title.
Both Biningu and Usavihwevhu are under the Charles Manyuchi Boxing Academy.
Manyuchi said he will not be leaving boxing completely as he will become a full-time promoter and coach.
“I am an entrepreneur at the moment. I want to expand my businesses but I know I have a very big role to play in the development of boxing in this country.
“I will be promoting fights and doing some coaching. But at the moment, I am more focused on how to outwit my opponent on May 27.
“I have a lot of areas that I need to work on going into the match. So for now, it’s work, and more work until May 27.”
The venue of the fight is yet to be confirmed but the bout will be staged in Zimbabwe.
Online Reporter