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Manyuchi title defence moved to July

Sport
WORLD Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight champion Charles Manyuchi will no longer defend his title next week as has been initially advertised, as the fight has been rescheduled to July against a different challenger.

WORLD Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight champion Charles Manyuchi will no longer defend his title next week as has been initially advertised, as the fight has been rescheduled to July against a different challenger.

BY HENRY MHARA

Manyuchi was billed to defend his title against Mexican Silverio Ortiz in Zambia next weekend, but information from Lusaka yesterday showed that the bout has been cancelled.

The 26-year-old Masvingo-born fighter will now defend his title in Italy against a local pugilist Gianluca Freeza in July.

This was revealed by Manyuchi’s handlers Oriental Quarries Boxing Promotions (OQBP) manager Christopher Malunga in a circular to boxing stakeholders yesterday.

“New changes Charles Manyuchi won’t fight Silverio Ortiz of Mexico, he will defend his title against Gianluca Freeza in Italy,” Malunga in the statement said.

“Date for the fight is 18th of July 2015 in Italy. We have already signed the contract and the fight has been approved by the WBC.”

The 35-year old Freeza has an impressive professional career record of 22 wins, with seven being knockouts, two draws and two losses.

Manyuchi is already in Zambia winding up preparations for the fight against Ortiz which had initially been scheduled to take place on Saturday next week.

The organisers have however scheduled a preparatory fight for Manyuchi on the day in Lusaka as part of his build-up to his title defense match against Freeza.

According to Malunga, Manyuchi will face off with Tanzanian boxer Ibrahimu Class in a six-round bout.

Manyuchi has 15 wins, two losses and a draw over 108 rounds.

He won his title after flooring Ghanaian Patrick Allotey in March last year, handing his opponent his first professional loss.

His successful title defence of the respected belt was achieved after defeating Columbian boxer Devis Caceres eight months later.