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By Gilbert Munetsi
The names of officials handling the World Boxing Council (WBC) women’s interim super-bantamweight title contest between Zimbabwe’s Kudakwashe “Take Money” Chiwandire and Zambia’s Catherine Phiri have been made public ahead of the January 29, 2022 showdown.
WBC vice president Houcine Houchi will supervise the bout with Namibia’s Filemon Mweya being the man at the centre of the ring as referee.
The judging trio comprises of Francis Chirwa from Zambia, Lynette Onam (Kenya) and South Africa’s Thandi Ngodwane.
Zimbabwe, which is conspicuous by its absence on the list, has never been a favourite when it comes to the art of boxing officiating, with a single referee/judge (Patrick Mukondiwa) usually getting the call to handle top drawer matches.
The disclosure of the officials was made by the promoter, Oriental Quarries Boxing Promotions, at a recent press conference held in the Zambian capital, Lusaka.
Chiwandire, a former kick boxing champion and soccer player, is taking part in the biggest boxing bout ever by a Zimbabwean as the WBC is viewed as the top most sanction body the world over, and their gold title being the highest.
The highest a local pugilist has gone was the silver title that was once fought for and won by Charles Manyuchi when he defeated a Russian opponent in Ekaterinburg a decade ago.
But the silver is a notch lower than the gold that Chiwandire eyes. Hers will not be an easy stroll in the park given that her opponent (Phiri) has previously been crowned a world champion.
But that is not seeming to deflate the Zimbabwean female fighter’s morale as she recently warned the Zambian in a skit produced during training:
“Catherine, Catherine, l’m coming for you! You are the former champion and l’m the new,” she chided.
Charles Manyuchi, who is fighting on the undercard and defending his World Alliance Boxing Association (WABA) supreme middleweight title and unifying it with the World Boxing Union (WBU) championship, yesterday said he is also looking forward to the tournament.
“This is my first return to Zambia since coming to Zimbabwe to fight on home soil for most of the titles l have now won. But Zambia is where l made a name and l know the multitudes of boxing followers there miss me much as l miss them.
“Agreeing to fight in Lusaka is my way of thanking the stable that nurtured me (OQBP), as well as the people of Zambia for all the support they rendered me,” said the two-time Annual National Sports Awards Sportsperson of the Year.
Manyuchi who is putting up camp in Lusaka for a month, will be trained by one of his former coaches at Oriental Boxing, Greetings Kaonga.
Apart from the presence of a colourful bout card, what is also interesting about the tournament is that the Big Four of OQBP who have all been continental and world champions, will be meeting again in the ring on the same bill after a very long time.
They are Alfred Muwowo (a former ABU flyweight champion), Lolita Muzeya (former WBC international lighweight champion), Catherine Phiri (former WBC silver and gold champion) and Manyuchi (a former ABU, WBC international and WBC silver champion). Nhau/Indaba
