WORLD Boxing Council (WBC) International Welterweight champion Charles Manyuchi has reconciled with the Zambian boxing stable, Oriental Quarries Boxing Promotion (OQBP), following the intervention of Sports minister Makhosini Hlongwane.
BY DANIEL NHAKANISO
OQBP did not renew their contract with Manyuchi when it expired in November 2015.
However, Hlongwane said the two parties had reached an agreement after he met with the Zambian stable director Christopher Malunga and coach Charles Zulu early this week.
Charles Manyuchi
“On Monday, I met with Chris Malunga, who is a both promoter and manager to Charles Manyuchi as well as Mike Zulu the coach,” he told a Press conference yesterday.
“I invited them to come to Zimbabwe so we could discuss issues around the relationship between Charles Manyuchi and themselves. We had a full day’s discussion, which was very fruitful.
“There were obviously very difficult issues that arose in as far as the relationship between Charles Manyuchi and his promoter and coaches were concerned. We felt it was our duty as government to assist our athletes to reconcile with promoters and managers given the situation that was obtaining.”
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Zimbabwe National Boxing and Wrestling Control Board secretary, Patrick Mukondiwa thanked the minister for his intervention, before revealing that WBC had since agreed to push his mandatory title defence back by six months.
“As you might know, Charles Manyuchi was supposed to defend his title in February, but it was going to be very difficult for him without a promoter. Because of government’s intervention, Oriental Quarries agreed to communicate with WBC so that they extend the deadline by six months for him to prepare,” he said.
Manyuchi, who was in danger of being stripped of his title, said he was happy to have solved his differences with OQBP and was looking forward to start preparing for his next fight.
“I’m very happy to share with you guys that I’m now back with Oriental Quarries Boxing Promotion. I want to thank the government, through the minister, who mediated our differences, with my promoter. I’m happy that I’m a free man and I’m looking forward to starting preparations for my next fight,” he said.
The welterweight boxer joined the Zambian stable in 2012 before winning and later defending the African Boxing Union (ABU) and World Boxing Council (WBC) international titles.
The Zimbabwean boxer rose to fame when he wrestled the WBC International welterweight belt from Patrice Allotey of Ghana in March 2014.
His first successful defence was against Devis Caceres of Colombia in Lusaka, Zambia, the following November, before his stunning victory over Italian champion Freeza in July last year.
