The Sunday Mail
FIRED-UP World Boxing Council International welterweight champion Charles Manyuchi has vowed to keep his five-year unbeaten record intact when he defends his title against Italian Gianluca Frezza in a fortnight.
Manyuchi has not tasted defeat since April 16, 2010 when he lost to Page Tshesane of South Africa, and the Zimbabwean does not believe Frezza has the capacity to dethrone him at the Sequals, Friuli-Venezia in Italy on July 18.
Speaking from his base in Zambia, where the 25-year-old boxer is training under Mike Zulu, Manyuchi downplayed Frezza’s threat.
“I am in perfect shape right now and ready for the big day. Yes, the fight is away in Italy, the first time I am fighting outside the continent, but that doesn’t scare me; not even.
“I am a champion and have to fight like one whether the match is at home or away. My training has gone well, thanks to my handlers Oriental Quarries and my sponsors back home Mr T35 and Bopela Group.
“It is true Frezza is a former WBC champion; he will be fighting in front of his own crowd, but that won’t affect my performance at all. I will do it for Zimbabwe,” Manyuchi declared.
Frezza (35) has a record of 23-2-2 that includes eight TKOs and is also a former WBC Mediterranean welterweight champion.
He has a world ranking of 107 out of the 1 746 professional welterweight boxers compared to Manyuchi, who is the 48th best welterweight in the world.
Manyuchi is undefeated in his last 14 fights and recently broke into the top 20 of the WBC rankings (number 19).
His last six victories came via knock-outs, including the momentous eighth round stoppage of Patrick Allotey that landed him the WBC crown at the Government Complex in Zambia in March 2014.
Manyuchi also knocked out Patrice Sou Toke of Burkina Faso on June 28, 2013 to clinch the African Boxing Union title that launched his ascendancy on the welterweight rankings.
His latest victory was a stunning 57-second knock-out of Ibrahimu Class of Tanzania in a non-title fight at Mulugushi Conference Centre in Lusaka, Zambia on May 2.
The Masvingo-bred pugilist has defended his WBC International title once, knocking out Colombian Devis Caceres in the second round in November last year.
