Manyuchi says promoter let him down

Zimbabwean boxer Charles Manyuchi has said he chickened out of the catchweight bout against Chimwemwe ‘Chipembere’ Chiotcha because the promoter of the bout, Mike ‘Bangwe One’ Chitenje did not prepare a contract.

The much-hyped fight, which was scheduled to take place at BAT Ground in Blantyre last Sunday, failed following twists and turns of sheer drama when Manyuchi and his team returned to Zambia in controversial circumstances on the eve of the bout.

Manyuchi’s manager, Mike Malunga, said from Zambia on Tuesday that in the absence of a contract, his boxer cannot be accused of chickening out of the contest.

“To begin with, we agreed with the organisers that my boxer would be paid $600 [about K203 400] and that they would refund us the money we used for transport, amounting to K130 000 [about $325]. We demanded that the money should be given to the Malawi Professional Boxing Board.

“But when we arrived in Blantyre, we established that the promoter had not met the conditions and he was banking on the gate revenue. There was also no contract. He only refunded half of the money we spent on fuel and we decided we could not proceed with the bout,” said Malunga.

“Our view was that the promoter was not ready,” he said.

National Professional Boxing Board (NPBB) chairperson Lonzoe Defector Zimba told The Nation that he suspected that Manyuchi was afraid of losing, which could have made him ineligible for his ABU welterweight title bout in Burkina Faso next month.

According to sources, doubts over the bout started showing on Friday, when Manyuchi and his team demanded a review of the package from $500 (about K172 000) to $1 000 (about K344 000).

Chitenje confirmed that he was forced to consent to Manyuchi’s demand to review the package.

“I am disappointed with what he [Manyuchi] has done considering the resources I spent in organising the fight,” he said.

He also said that he has lodged a complaint to the Zambia Professional Boxing Control Board [where Manyuchi is registered].

Zimba also expressed disappointment with Manyuchi’s dramatic U-turn.

“I was also suspicious because after the money issue was resolved, Manyuchi started raising other issues such as difference in weight, when he already knew Chiotcha’s weight. I told them that they would still fight in the catchweight category,” he said.