Manyuchi down, but not out

Mon, 27 Mar 2017 10:21:04 +0000

By GRACE CHAILE LESOETSA

CHARLES MANYUCHI is a good boxer and can still rise to reclaim the World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight silver belt, says Exodus Boxing promotions manager Anthony Mwamba.

Commenting on Manyuchi’s failure to defend the title against Qudratillo Abduqaxorov of Uzbekistan after suffering a knock out in the first round at OCBC Arena in Singapore.

Mwamba said Manyuchi merely met a good boxer hence expected any result.

“It happens in boxing, one wins or loses. I have great respect for Manyuchi but he just met a good boxer. He is still young and can challenge for the title and even reclaim it, which is very possible,” he said.

He said Manyuchi just needed to go back to the drawing board and aim to become World Champion again. He called on fans to rally behind the boxer especially at this time of his career.

“Manyuchi has proved it before on a foreign soil, its unfortunate it wasn’t the same in Singapore. With encouragement from the fans, he will rise,” he said.

Meanwhile, a Lusaka boxing enthusiast Maybin Mwamba said it as time that Manyuchi stopped his playing tricks.

Mwamba said it was foolish of him to toy around with the opponent in first round.

“I think he should change his tactics. It is known for him to tease a boxer in the first rounds of the fight. He should be serious immediately he enters the ring. The technical department should work on it,” he said.

And Mary Hangoma was confident that Manyuchi would reclaim the title if he challenged.

“I feel it was not just his day. Yes, that seriousness was not there and maybe he was too confident. Even then, Manyuchi can beat that boxer, he should just challenge,” Hangoma said.