The Sunday Mail
Sports Reporter
HE is always behind the scenes and his exploits often go unnoticed, yet he is the one credited for conditioning a number of local boxers, including the popular Charles Manyuchi.
Just like Sugar Hill Steward – Tyson Fury’s trainer who is rarely celebrated despite his massive input in the boxer’s latest victory over Deontay Wilder – Ali “Otto” Phiri finds himself in a similar situation.
He is the chief trainer at Charles Manyuchi Academy, which has produced a number of champions, including former World Boxing Organisation Africa welterweight title holder Brendon “Boika” Denes.
He has also been Manyuchi’s trainer since the WBF middleweight champion’s divorce with Zambian stable Oriental Quarries.
The veteran trainer has now decided to emerge from the shadows and is fronting an eight-bout tournament set for Borrowdale Racecourse next Sunday.
Dubbed “Rise of Champions”, the tournament has been organised by Otto Boxing Club in conjunction with mineral water suppliers ZLG.
This will be the first local tournament in five months.
The last one was hosted by Clyde Musonda’s Delta Force Academy on June 5.
“Since we were in lockdown, most of our boxers were inactive, so the need to keep our boxers in shape pushed me to organise this tournament.
“As Zimbabwe, we need to host more tournaments because this will improve our boxers’ records and in turn position them for lucrative international bouts,” Phiri told The Sunday Mail Sport.
“There are some people who have helped me organise this tournament and I want to thank them, especially ZLG, who have promised to work with us in future tournaments.”
An exciting bout is expected between Evans “99” Usaiwevhu of the Charles Manyuchi Academy and Collen Zidumbu, who will fight over six rounds in a lightweight contest.
Freeman Mabvongwe takes on Liberty Muwani in a middleweight bout, while Aliyah Phiri will square up against Ndodana Moyo in a lightweight tussle.
“We have a lot of promising boxers out there that we need to groom. They are still fighting for peanuts but soon they will be boxing for diamonds.
“I also have to clarify that I am still there at Charles Manyuchi Boxing Academy as a trainer and coach.
“But I also have a wish to promote unheralded boxers, hence the title ‘Rise of Champions’,” he said.
Bout card:
Tafadzwa Mushando vs Lancelot Moyo (lightweight)
Michelle Mubaiwa vs Linda Maposa (lightweight)
Aliyah Phiri vs Ndodana Moyo (lightweight)
Tinashe Majoni vs Taurai Zimunya (featherweight)
Evans Husaiwevhu vs Collen Zidumbu (lightweight)
Hassan Milanzi vs Given Daure (featherweight)
Enock Musambudzi vs Lazarus Sithole (middleweight)
Freeman Mabvongwe vs Liberty Muwani (middleweight)
