Zimpapers Logo

Charles Manyuchi

Sports Reporter
FORMER World Boxing Council silver welter weight champion Charles Manyuchi is hoping to regain lost pride when he faces Russia’s Magomed Kurbanov in a non-title World Boxing Federation super welterweight bout at the DIVS Arena, Yekaterinburg, tomorrow.

The 28-year old Zimbabwean pugilist approaches this match with a bruised ego after he lost the WBC title to Uzbekistan’s Qudratillo Abduqaxorov via a TKO in May last year.

Manyuchi faces the WBO super welterweight champion.

“I am not very concerned about numbers. What matters the most is how each of us approach the match,’’ said Manyuchi.

“It’s about how we are going to apply ourselves in the bout that matters at the end of the day.

“We have prepared well for the fight and I hope we will go about it well.

“I’m geared up for this fight, it means everything for me and my career, so I will not take anything for granted.

“Like any mortal, I have learnt my mistakes and the fall in Singapore is still very fresh in my memory.

“I have scaled up the divisions from welterweight to super welterweight and this means even my fighting style has changed to suit the current circumstances.

“My team has been working on that around the clock and a victory in a new division is every boxer’s wish.’’

German Tutov is promoting the fight in a deal that will see the Zimbabwean take part in several international assignments brokered by the veteran Russian promoter.

Zimbabwe National Boxing and Wrestling Control Board member, Patrick Mkondiwa said this is an opportunity for Manyuchi to revive his career.

“This is a very good opportunity for Charles to revive his career. I don’t know much about his opponent but according to his record he has no defeat.

“The trick is to knock the person out, remember this guy is at home. He should either go for a knockout or beat him convincingly.

“We wish him good luck. The trick is he should not repeat what happened in Singapore, he should protect himself all the time,” said Mkondiwa.