A GROUP of boxing supporters called — the Friends of Manyuchi — has been formed to drum up support for World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight champion Charles Manyuchi ahead of his title defence against Italian Gianluca Freeza on July 18.
BY DANIEL NHAKANISO
Manyuchi arrived back in the country on Monday evening from yet another successful outing after knocking out Tanzanian boxer Ibrahim Mgendera in just 57 seconds in a non-title fight at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka at the weekend.
The reigning Sportsman of the Year, who fights under the Zambian stable Oriental Quarries Boxing Promotions, was immediately welcomed by his principal sponsors, a local truck repair and sales company Mr T35.
The company which early this year gave Manyuchi a car and a residential stand after successfully defending his world title in November last year is behind the formation of the fan club.
“I’m very grateful to Mr T35 for all the support he has given me in my boxing career. He is the only local sponsor who has stood by me in all the tough times and I’m happy they have also facilitated the formation of this fan club as it will motivate other fans to come and support me when I fight in Zambia.
“Preparations for my next fight have been progressing well and the win at the weekend was a step in the right direction,” Manyuchi said.
Zivanai Muwashu, who is the chairman of the Friends of Manyuchi said: “We decided to establish the Friends of Manyuchi fan club as a way of drumming up support for our world boxing champion Charles Manyuchi.
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“We have the blessings of the Zimbabwe National Boxing Control Board and hope to raise awareness to sponsors out there to come and support our boxing champion. As you know he has been finding it difficult to find sponsors locally despite all his success.”
“We are very happy with his win over the weekend. It’s a record on its own and we are confident he will do well in his next major fight when he defends his title against Gianluca Freeza from Italy. We are hoping by the time he defends his belt he would be in a steady position to challenge for big honours against the top boxers in his division such as Amir Khan,” Muwashu added.
