Story by Lawrence Trusida, Sports Editor
WORLD Boxing Council (WBC) interim super-bantam weight champion Kudakwashe Chiwandire is optimistic about beating Mexican Yamileth Mercado when the two clash for the unified golf belt in Chihuahua on the 18th of this month.
The pugilist who has been in training for the last two months is now ready to face the Mexican in her home town.
Chiwandire has already overcome the odds of beating a champion in her home ground after she first captured the WBC title away from Catherine Phiri in Zambia.
Chiwandire affectionately known as “Take Money” went on to defend the title at home when she defeated another Mexican, Zulina Munoz at the Harare International Conference Centre.
The best-ranked Zimbabwean female boxer and the best-rated in Africa, Chiwandire will leave the country on Sunday morning to face a puncher who has held the title for three years, but she is not worried.
Chiwandire said, ‘‘I promise the nation that I am going to bring the belt home, I am going to knock her out, I have prepared so well for the fight and it’s my time she is a former champion I am the new champion and Zimbabwe must believe in me.’’
Fighting during Women’s Month, Chiwandire is dedicating the contest to all Zimbabwean women.
Chiwandire noted, ‘‘As women, we face a lot of challenges in sport but I will be fighting for all the women in Zimbabwe and am ready to make sure that we start writing a new chapter in the history of women’s sport here in Zimbabwe.’’
Chiwandire has all but concluded her training sessions as she is now just holding sparring sessions with male boxers as she looks to sharpen her act.
