Honourable exit from world title contention for “T...

Honourable exit from world title contention for “Take Money”

Take Money clinches sponsorship deal -Newsday Zimbabwe — “Take Money” (R) with manager Clyde Musonda

Gilbert Munetsi

Kudakwashe “Take Money” Chiwandire honourably lost her bid for the World Boxing Council super-bantamweight world title when she lost, by a unanimous points decision, to defending champion Yemelith Mercado in Mexico early this morning.

The contest, the main drawcard of seven supporting bouts, took place at the Gimnasio Manuel Bernado Aguirre in Chihuahua, some 1 400km north-west of Mexico City. It attracted a full house.

“Take Money” dominated rounds 2,4 and 5 and perhaps seeing the need to cover up for the lost rounds, was on the offensive in the last round just as she was in the first.

For one who had to endure an unforgettable trip that was punctuated with delays, flight cancellations and a lack of rest, Chiwandire did not disappoint, but went on to put a sterling performance that had her W21-L3-D0 five-time world champion opponent digging deeper into her bag of experience to pull through.

While the assumption was that Team “Take Money” would negotiate for a postponement of the event owing to their late arrival in Mexico, it was mutually agreed in a meeting with the promoter that the match goes ahead.

Said Clyde Musonda, Chiwandire’s manager, in an interview from Chihuahua:

“The decision, initially, was that we push the fight forward, but when we sat down with the promoter to discuss the matter, we all concluded it was ideal we move ahead as planned.

“There were a lot of preparations that had already been done which would have been scuppered by not forging ahead. Tickets had already been sold, bookings done and sponsors, media and other stakeholders eagerly awaiting the match to happen.

“And when the promoter suggested that we share the costs in the event of a postponement, we were left with no option but to play along,” Musonda said.

He said he and his boxer had no complaints about the verdict, noting they had faced a more experienced fighter who not only has three-fold the number of fights compared to Chiwandire, but has also held onto the championship a record five times.

“We now go back to the drawing board to see what best way we can chart for our boxer. Age is still much on her side and we have so many other options such as the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Organisation and other international associations that offer titles. And Kuda is still there within the ranks of the WBC.

“We have also taken note of the need and importance of having things done in time and going into the future, we will ensure all contractual obligations are fulfilled within set time-frames to avoid inconveniences such as those we faced,” he added.

The boxer and her entourage leave Mexico today via Amsterdam from where they will connect to Johannesburg and expect to be home in Zimbabwe on Tuesday.

Meanwhile the Zimbabwe National Boxing and Wrestling Control Board has hailed Chiwandire for putting up a good fight, despite the loss.

“We have just received the results of the highly-anticipated WBC Super Bantamweight Gold title match held in Chihuahua, Mexico, today. Zimbabwean fighter, Kudakwashe Chiwandire, took on the reigning champion, Yemileth Mercado, in a thrilling 10-round battle.

“After a competitive and hard-fought contest, the judges have awarded Yemileth Mercado a Unanimous Decision victory, allowing her to retain the WBC Super Bantamweight Gold title.

“We are incredibly proud of Kudakwashe Chiwandire for her remarkable performance and dedication throughout the match. She has demonstrated exceptional skill and determination in the ring, representing Zimbabwe with great honour. We are confident that she will come back even stronger in her future bouts.

“We would like to extend our congratulations to Yemileth Mercado for successfully defending her title and to both fighters for their outstanding display of sportsmanship,” the ZNBWCB said in a statement.

Effectively, it means “Take Money” and her management team ought to seek ways of reclaiming the interim title she once held before the Mercado Mexico challenge because for her to bid for the gold as she just did, she first had to relinquish the interim belt she won against Esther Phiri of Zambia and successfully defended against Zulina Munoz in Harare last October.