Chiwandire goes down fighting Kudakwashe “Take-Money” Chiwandire

Tadious Manyepo-Sports Reporter

THE writing was on the wall given the logistical disaster that preceded this World Boxing Council super-bantamweight world title challenge fight.

But Zimbabwe’s top female boxer Kudakwashe “Take Money” Chiwandire made it difficult for Yamileth Mecardo before losing the bout on points in Chihuahau, Mexico, yesterday morning.

Chiwandire stood minimal chances of defying the odds, especially after she landed in the North American country barely 12 hours before the fight.

Her handlers, Deltaforce Academy attempted to have the fight rescheduled but the promoters made it difficult for them.

Deltaforce director Clyde Musonda, who is also Chiwandire’s trainer, said the Mexican promoters wanted them to share the financial costs in the event the bout was postponed.

Shockingly, there was no provision for a postponement in the contract that Deltaforce Academy signed last month.

“We really wanted this fight to be postponed given the circumstances surrounding our trip to Mexico.

“We engaged our hosts but they made it difficult for us,” said Musonda.

“They were saying in the event that the bout is shelved for a future date, we would then be forced to share the hosting costs.

“For us, it was very difficult and we sat down as a team from Deltaforce, including our boxer (Chiwandire), and we agreed the fight should go on. “It was very difficult for us and the boxer after we arrived at around 9am for a 10pm fight.

“Chiwandire was not in a good mental shape and physically she was also weary.

“But we had no other option. We just agreed that let’s participate. That is the situation we encountered. As the Deltaforce Academy director, I first consulted with my colleagues who I travelled with to Mexico and those that remained in Zimbabwe. It wasn’t my decision alone but a collective stable decision.”

Yet Chiwandire never showed any signs of fatigue in the initial stages of this reverting showdown that attracted a bumper crowd. She was full of energy, combining her left hook with a right jab to good effect.

The 27-year-old had everything under control for the opening four rounds confining her opponent to the ropes most of the time.

For once, the partisan crowd lowered their voices as Chiwandire dominated their boxer. But the energy levels Chiwandire used in those opening stages would later turn out to be her major undoing.

While she was throwing the hard punches with lightning pace, her more experienced opponent was patient.

Mercado, who has successfully defended the title since 2019 always had her left on guard as Chiwandire tried hard to land strong punches.

But fatigue eventually caught up with the Zimbabwean as she allowed the Mexican to take control for the rest of the bout.

Chiwandire, however, had done almost enough in the opening four of the 10-round fight and all the three judges scored narrowly in favour of Mercado.

Musonda hailed Chiwandire for the spirit she showed.

“As Deltaforce Academy we are very proud of our boxer. She fought hard for the Zimbabwean badge.

“The conditions were very difficult but she just showed she is made of sterner stuff.”

Chiwandire might consider challenging for the now vacant WBC interim title which she kept from February last year.

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