AFTER successfully defending his World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight bronze title twice, Zimbabwean fighter Charles Manyuchi will take the next step in his promising career when he faces Dmitry Mikhaylenko of Russia for the vacant WBC welterweight silver title in May.
BY DANIEL NHAKANISO
Oriental Quarries Boxing Promotion (OQBP) manager Christopher Malunga told NewsDay Sport yesterday that the fight would take place in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg on May 6.
The WBC welterweight silver title was left vacant by British star Amir Khan and is just a rung below the gold title previously held by American superstar Floyd Mayweather Jnr, who retired from the sport last year unbeaten in 49 fights.
Mikhaylenko, a 29-year-old from Gelendzhik, Russia, has a professional record of 21 wins, no losses and nine knockouts.
He heads into the fight against Manyuchi after a unanimous points decision over Canada’s Karim Mayfield in Montreal two months ago.
The World Boxing Organisation European welterweight champion is, however, expected to face a tough task to preserve his unbeaten record against Manyuchi, whose record stands at 17 wins, two losses and one draw.
Manyuchi, who has already started his training camp in Zambia, is rated the ninth best welterweight boxer on the world rankings, a places higher than Mikhaylenko.
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Malunga told NewsDay Sport from Lusaka that they had moved to quickly secure a WBC welterweight silver title fight for Manyuchi after reconciling with the boxer recently.
“Charles Manyuchi arrived in Zambia on Tuesday and has signed a contract of five years under OQBP. His next fight will be for the vacant WBC welterweight silver title against a Russian boxer, Dmitry Mikhaylenko, on May 6 in Russia. The contract for the fight has already been signed by both OQPB and the boxer, and Manyuchi is already here in Zambia for his camp,” Malunga said yesterday.
Manyuchi last month reunited with the Zambian promoters following lengthy negotiations spearheaded by Sport and Recreation minister Makhosini Hlongwane.
Manyuchi was running the risk of losing his WBC welterweight title as there were no Zimbabwean promoters willing to host his mandatory title defence.
Malunga thanked Hlongwane for playing an important role in reuniting the two parties after a fallout between them last year.
“I want to thank his Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, who appointed a very clever minister who handled the issue in a very professional manner.
When we spoke to the minister, we assured him that we would push for Manyuchi to have an opportunity to fight for the WBC welterweight silver title and I’m happy to say we have fulfilled our promise,” Malunga said.
Manyuchi’s last fight was in July 2015 when he successfully defended his title, for the second time, knocking out Gianluca Freeza of Italy in the sixth round.
