"The Grand Finale" is still on - Manyuchi's event ...

"The Grand Finale" is still on - Manyuchi's event manager

The Herald - Breaking news. — **Charles Manyuchi**

Tapiwanashe Chimoto

Boxing champion Charles Manyuchi’s farewell fight will now take place at the end of July at a new venue, is has emerged.

Dubbed “The Grand Finale”, the tournament will be the boxer’s last fight as he bids goodbye to the sport that has given him a name and which he has participated in as a professional for a decade. He turned 33 this year.

He will fight DRC’s Sheriff Kasongo in the super middleweight division over eight rounds. There are six other supporting bouts on the card, two of them World Boxing Federation championships. The latter will feature Zimbabweans Evans “Vanso” Husavihwevhu as well as Tinashe “Chairman” Mwadziwana.

Manyuchi’s camp said despite a change in dates, preparations were ongoing with Manyuchi already in camp in Masvingo, preparing for the testimonial match. He once fought with Kasongo and emerged victorious on a points decision.

“We are geared for the fight and have fulfilled most of the requirements. The sanction fees have been paid to the board and his licence renewal issued upon submission of the prerequisite requirements that include his medicals.

“There have just been circumstances beyond our control that have compelled us to push the date forward, but I can assure you the fight is on,” said the event manager, Monica Cheru, in an interview.

Manyuchi’s Zambia coach, Greetings Kaonga, is expected in the country soon as the boxer intensifies his training.

Manyuchi spent a greater part of his career in Zambia contracted to Oriental Quarries Boxing club from where he won the African Boxing Union title. Thereafter, he fought for, and won the World Boxing Council international and silver titles – the best achievement by a Zimbabwean boxer then.

He also holds the World Boxing Federation world super-middleweight, the World Professional Boxing Federation, Global Boxing Union and Universal Boxing Union titles.

Among his achievements were being conferred with the Annual National Sports Award for Sportsperson of the Year and receiving a monetary token from the Presidency. He also established an own boxing stable, the Charles Manyuchi Boxing Academy, from which champions who include Kudakwashe “Take Money” Chiwandire, Brendon “Boika Denes and (Evans) Husavihwevhu niched their careers.