Manyuchi to hang gloves

Harare (New Ziana) -Zimbabwean professional boxer Charles Manyuchi is set to hang his gloves this month with a farewell fight against Sheriff Kasongo of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in a none title bout.

His events manager Monica Cheru made the announcement at a press conference held in the capital on Thursday.

“To mark his retirement from professional boxing, Manyuchi will be taking part in his last bout on May 28,” she said, adding that the iconic boxer would be dedicating the fight to his legion of fans.

Cheru paid tribute to the various stakeholders who she said without them, Manyuchi would not have travelled the long journey.

Speaking at the same occasion, Manyuchi said discipline had enabled him to succeed in the sport, and challenged upcoming boxers to work closely with their trainers.

“Discipline is the key. Always listen to the managers and trainers who are the makers of the game,” he said.

“It is not a boxer who makes a promoter, but the promoters and the managers who make the boxer. That is my advice.”

The none title fight, dubbed “The Grand Finale” will feature other bouts including between Clever Sithole and Thembani Muhlanga, Evans Usayihwevhu and Salim Chazama as well as Tatenda Biningu versus Yamikani Mkandawire.

Manyuchi is hanging his gloves after 33 fruitful years that saw him winning 5 gold medals at the All Africa Games as an amateur.

He is going into retirement with a record of 30 fights, 25 wins (15 of them by Knockout), 4 loses and 1 draw.

Manyuchi has won the African Boxing Union welterweight title, the World Boxing Council international title which he successfully defended two times and the World Boxing Council silver title.

He was the first world champion to come out of Zimbabwe and currently, he holds the World Boxing Federation middleweight title, The World Alliance Boxing Association world supreme title, The Universal Boxing Council inter-continental title and The World Professional Boxing Council title.

His last fight was in July 2021 at the Flamboyant Hotel in Masvingo when he defeated Ugandan Mohammad Sebyala to claim the unified WBF and WABA titles.

The revered boxer has fought opponents from different parts of the world including from Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Colombia, Italy, Russia, the DRC, Singapore, Argentina, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

It will be the second time that Manyuchi and Kisongo lock horns, the first being in July 2017 when he won by Unanimous Decision.

Manyuchi is a model sportsperson who has invested well from his sweat as evidenced by the various business ventures that he has embarked including public transport, dog breeding, security services, chicken and goat rearing, farming, car sales and mining.

New Ziana