Charles Manyuchi
Midlands Correspondent
A boxing fiesta is in store for boxing lovers when pugilists from across the country spar in the Charles Manyuchi Invitational tournament at the Harare International Conference Centre on Saturday.
World Boxing Welterweight champion Charles Manyuchi is sponsoring the tournament, which is one of many he has lined up countrywide in a bid to resuscitate the sport.
One such tournament was held in Chivhu in September.
Zimbabwe Boxing Federation (ZBF) secretary-general Goodwill Sibanda said 26 boxers will fight in the tournament on Saturday night.
“Manyuchi approached us and we gave him the greenlight to sponsor the tournament, which will feature our best boxers who took part in the national championships in Chivhu,” said Sibanda.
“We have given him 26 boxers and we are expecting bouts for upcoming boxers that are keen on boxing.”
Winners will walk away with prize money availed by Manyuchi and his local sponsors Mr T 35.
The tournament is set to spread to other provinces such as Midlands, Masvingo and Bulawayo.
Meanwhile, Sibanda said ZBF was making final preparations to ensure that they send 14 boxers to the inaugural Nelson Mandela Invitational Boxing tournament in South Africa this weekend.
The federation extended a begging bowl to raise money for the pugilists to travel to South Africa for the tournament.