The Sunday Mail
Sports Reporter
THE World Boxing Council (WBC) have one African — Catherine Phiri of Zambia — in the top 10 of their latest female Super bantamweight rankings.
She is ranked number five in a list that is dominated by boxers from Mexico, the United States and Argentina.
Zimbabwean boxer Kudakwashe “Take Money” Chiwandire remains outside the top 20, but she is recognised as the Interim Super bantamweight champion, having defeated Phiri in February last year.
The 27-year-old could, however, force a major reshuffle of the WBC’s top order if she claims the WBC Super bantamweight belt, which is currently held by Mexican Yamileth Mercado.
The two pugilists square off at the Gimnasio Manuel Bernardo Aguirre in Chihuahua, Mexico, on March 18.
The fight was finally confirmed last week after weeks of haggling over contractual issues between the two parties.
Both camps are now in the process of sending blood and anti-doping test results to the WBC before the show gets underway.
Chiwandire is set to become the first Zimbabwean boxer to fight for a WBC world title.
“All that is encouraging me,” Chiwandire told The Sunday Mail Sport.
“The fight is also happening during Women’s Month.
“I am sure millions of Zimbabwean women will be behind me when I take to the ring in Mexico.
“I will also make sure that I don’t disappoint them.”
She was also in high spirits as a local firm, RM Plumbing, pledged more financial support at a function held at Harare Sports Club on Thursday.
“I am going to Mexico to take the belt; nothing more, nothing less.
“And I am not afraid of Mercado. Yes, she has an impressive record and she will be fighting at home but I am also battle-hardened.
“I grew up in the ghetto, where life was tough. In the ghetto, you didn’t get what you wanted on a silver platter.
“This background taught me to be tough. It taught me to be brave and I am going to Mexico unfazed by both the venue and the opponent.”
Mercado — who turns 25 two days before the fight — has a record of 20-3-0, including five knockout wins. She has been the WBC female Super bantamweight champion since November 16, 2019. The Mexican has one defeat in her last nine fights.
Her last title defence was on April 2, 2022, when she outpointed fellow countrywoman Isis Vargas Perez.
Chiwandire won the right to challenge for the world title after defeating Mexican Zulina Munoz in Harare on October 15, 2022.
Munoz is ranked the ninth-best female Super bantamweight boxer by the WBC.
“Not many gave me a chance against Munoz but I sailed through because of hard work and self-belief.
“That is the same mentality I am taking into this match against Mercado,” said Chiwandire.
Her trainer and manager Clyde Musonda is also bullish.
“We have been preparing well for this fight and we are on course to make history.
“The boxer is in shape, almost everything is in place and we are looking forward to the trip to Mexico,” he said.
