WBO throws Mharidzo lifeline

By Fatima Bulla
THE World Boxing Organisation has thrown a lifeline to  Zimbabwe’s Tineyi Mharidzo who was about to be stripped of his super-middleweight title.
Now Mharidzo has the chance to retain or lose his title after Andrew Smale, the WBO Africa representative, said he was approached by a Zimbabwean well-wisher who made an appeal that they will ensure the match is staged here on March 5.
He said the well-wishers preferred to remain anonymous for now.
“I was approached by someone and they said they wanted the match to be staged on home soil and therefore they are making frantic efforts to ensure that the match is staged on 5 March,” Smale said
“I am now busy looking for an opponent for him and I will be finalising all the details within this week and will keep you informed as and when things unfold.”
Mharidzo’s trainer, Denver Wynne, confirmed that there were some “big people” running around to organise the bout but he was not keen to give finer details.
Mharidzo holds the Africa super- middleweight title after he downed South Africa’s ex-convict Michael Shultz twice to maintain a firm grip on the belt.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe National Boxing and Wrestling Control Board (ZNBWCB) is set to have a new broom sweeping in the office with sources indicating that the Sports Commission will submit names of new appointees to the relevant Ministry this week.
Last year the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture requested the Sports Commission to submit names of capable administrators who could breathe new life into the board.
However, the Sports Commission’s director-general Charles Nhemachena could not shed more light on the developments.
“We are still running around so that we put our house in order. As soon as we are ready we will inform you,” he said.