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Gilbert Munetsi Sports Correspondent
World Boxing Council international champion Charles Manyuchi arrived in Russia on Wednesday where he is scheduled to challenge for the WBC Silver title left vacant by Briton Amir Khan. Manyuchi – who is traveling in the company of his manager at Oriental Quarries Boxing Promotions, Christopher Malunga, coach Mike “Weaver” Zulu and assistant coach Greetings Kaunga – meets undefeated Russian welterweighter Dmitry “The Mechanic” Mikhaylenko in a 12-rounder at the DIVS, Ekaterinburg.

Manyuchi’s camp said they were not reading much into their opponent’s impressive record (21-0-0), but would, instead, take the fight like any other. Their aim was to score a convincing victory, preferably by a knockout to avoid any home advantage verdict in favour of the host boxer, if the fight is prolonged up to the final bell.

Manyuchi is an orthodox and like his Russian opponent, has a height of 175cm. But the similarities seem to end there. Manyuchi last fought in July 2015 when he accounted for Gianluca Frezza away in Italy in his second title defence of the WBC international title.

He won by KO in the 6th round and that was his 14th consecutive win within a period of six years.

He is armed with a KO rate of 55 percent.

Manyuchi, who has never fought at home in Zimbabwe since being crowned African Boxing Union champion some four years back, has triumphed in foreign rings in Burkina Faso, Zambia, Namibia and has also fought boxers from DRC, South Africa, Ghana, Colombia and Italy.

Aged 26, he currently holds a world ranking of number 35 out of 2 092, according to the official boxing website, Boxrec.

He has held the ABU title and WBC international and now eyes a title that is a notch higher, the WBC silver, which gives him easy access to challenge for the gold previously held by Floyd Mayweather Jnr.

The other side of the coin has a “Mechanic” who has not yet succumbed to defeat since turning professional some 21 bouts ago. Dmitry is a holder of the World Boxing Organisation European welterweight title, the World Boxing Association-NABA and USBA welterweight titles are also in his cabinet.

He is Russia’s second best welterweight pugilist, has a lower KO rate of 43 percent compared to Manyuchi and had his last fight on January 30 this year.

Meanwhile, a Zimbabwean contingent in London has said it is awaiting approval of their visa applications to travel and support Manyuchi.

This is the same group of seven who last year travelled to Italy to cheer the Zimbabwean against Frezza.