BY HENRY MHARA
NATIONAL lightweight boxing champion Evans “Vanso” Husavihwevhu is optimistic of a victory when he clashes with Malawian Bison Gwayani for the World Alliance Boxing Association (Waba) All-Africa lightweight belt on July 3 in Masvingo.
This clash will be one of the three title fights of the night, including the main bout between boxing superstar Charles Manyuchi, who will defend his World Boxing Federation (WBF) belt against Ugandan Muhamad Sebyala.
Manyuchi — a holder of the Global Boxing Union and Universal Boxing Council titles — will also battle for the Waba against the east African boxer.
The other title fight will see Tinashe Majoni clash with Tanzanian Yusouf Ali for a WBF crown.
The tournament has been moved from Harare to Masvingo as Manyuchi, who is organising the fights under his Manyuchi Boxing Academy stable, wants to pay back to the community that developed his career.
Highly-rated Vanso, who is going into the fight on a high after lifting the lightweight national title on Saturday, says he is geared up for the tournament to be hosted by Flamboyant Hotel.
“I have been watching his (Gwayani’s) fights and I can say it will be tough. He is good, a former WBF champion and a current holder of the national title in Malawi. I will have to be at my best to win, but I am confident in my abilities and I’m very confident that I will beat him,” Vanso who is under Manyuchi Boxing Academy, said.
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Before his weekend win over Patson Mutengwa which handed him the national title, Vanso had drawn against Ndodana Ncube in May, with all the fights used as preparations for the Gwayani clash.
“I’m getting there as far as preparations are concerned. These fights have really helped me a lot. We haven’t been fighting competitively for a very long time because of COVID-19, so these matches have given me the match fitness that I wanted. There are still a few areas that I need to improve, but otherwise I am ready,” he added.
His clash with Gwayani will be the curtain raiser to the big clash between Manyuchi and Sebyala.
Manyuchi is returning to the ring for the first time since flooring Argentine Diego Diaz Gallardo in Harare two years ago to land the WBF middleweight title, adding that he has been trying hard to work his way back to the top since losing his WBC silver welterweight championship title in March 2017, and beating Sebyala is part of the plan.
He knows that a defeat against the Ugandan would put a huge dent on his journey back to stardom.
- Follow Henry on Twitter @henrymhara
