The Sunday Mail
THE World Boxing Council International welterweight champion Charles Manyuchi is back in training and says he is open to reunion talks with former handlers Oriental Quarries Boxing Promotions.
As his search for a mandatory title defence bout continues the 26-year old boxer is back in the gym as he seeks to get his career back on track after last year’s fall out with the Zambian promoters.
Oriental Quarries manager Chris Malunga revealed a fortnight ago that his stable’s doors were open for Manyuchi provided the two parties patch up the differences that led to the fallout.
And now Manyuchi, who resumed serious training last Wednesday at Body Active Gym in Borrowdale, has exclusively told The Sunday Mail that he is also willing to kiss and make up.
“I am open to talks with them, to patch up our differences if it is still possible. But for now, I need about two weeks in the gym to get back into shape,” said Manyuchi soon after a sparring session with his local trainer Ali Phiri.
“Everyone knows it is Oriental Quarries who lifted me to where I am now, a champion, but at the same time I also thank other people who also played their part along the journey.
“I want to send my congratulations to my former stable mate Catherine Phiri for winning the WBC gold bantamweight belt,” he said.
Although Oriental Quarries have remained mum on the reasons behind their decision not to renew Manyuchi’s contract, it is widely believed that the boxer’s failure to remit 25 percent – as stated by the contract – of the $50 000 he received from President Mugabe last July caused the fallout.
Other reports claim that Malunga was also irked by reports, though unconfirmed, that Manyuchi had held talks with a Namibian promoter before his contract with Oriental Quarries had expired.
Manyuchi weighed 72 kilograms when he entered the gym last Wednesday but his trainer Phiri – who has designed a one-month training program for the pugilist – is confident the boxing champion’s weight will be reduced to welterweight requirements of 65 kilograms “in the next three weeks.”
“We are working on his fitness because it has been long since he last was in the gym.
“He is training twice a day. We do sparring and other exercises in the morning before he goes for a 10 km road run in the evening,” said Phiri.
Body Active Gym manager Victor Hungwe, who is also an international bodybuilding champion, revealed that they had offered Manyuchi free US use of their facilities.
“He is a world champion who is raising the country’s flag internationally so we have decided to give him the facilities for free plus a trainer. We want him back to his best so that he can defend his title,” said Hungwe.
