Grittings gives star the grit
FOUR years ago when Charles Manyuchi embarked on the 495 km journey to Lusaka, he didn’t even have a decent bag to pack his clothes; he borrowed one from a close friend - Martin Beula.
He also didn’t have a decent pair of shoes and got one from his friend while the blue gloves he took with him on that journey were sourced from Ali Phiri, a local boxer.
That was December 2012, a few weeks after Manyuchi signed his first professional boxing contract with Oriental Quarries Boxing Promotions (OQBP) of Zambia, coincidentally on his 23rd birthday on November 19 of that year.
Pulling a red bag, holding another smaller one on the other hand, a sheepish Manyuchi disembarked from a ZUPCO coach at a then modest Lusaka long distance bus terminus.
The terminus, now known as the Inter-City Terminus, has since grown into one of the busiest international bus stations in the region and Manyuchi has also grown into one the most respected boxers, not only in Zambia but on the global arena.
Now 27, Manyuchi has been transformed into an international boxer and reigns as World Boxing Council Silver welterweight title holder.
He is also ranked third on the overall DRIVING south from Lusaka, on a road that meanders through commercial maize farms and banana plantations, a vast piece of land that is tightly secured by private and state security details emerges as you pass the 30km peg.
The huge earth moving machines found on this land belong to Oriental Quarries, one of the biggest suppliers of building materials in the massive construction revolution sweeping through Zambia today.
This is the area they call Makeni and the cash-rich Oriental Quarries are the parent company for Oriental Quarries Boxing Promotions boxing stable.
On entering the premises, a distinct building - which from the outside looks like a warehouse - greets the eye.
The structure is actually a boxing gym, a state-of-the-art facility credited with producing World Boxing Council International Silver welterweight champion Charles Manyuchi.
Various equipment supplied by tried and tested international manufacturers catches the eye as one strolls through the gym.
But it is the statement “Welcome To The House Of Hits”, boldly emblazoned on the walls, which stands out.
Apart from Manyuchi, the other “Hits” that have been produced in this gym are WBC Women’s Gold bantamweight champion Catherine Phiri and WBC Women’s Silver welterweight title-holder Lolita Muzeya.
Manyuchi calls this place “Hell on Earth”.
As his title defence against Qudratillo Abduqaxorov looms, Manyuchi’s training regime has become more intense. He now trains thrice a day before retiring to WBC welterweight rankings.
Zambians, especially the older generation, appear to have a lot of respect for Zimbabwean musicians with Oliver Mtukudzi, Thomas Mapfumo and Leonard Dembo topping the list.
Coincidentally, Dembo’s timeless tracks off his 1995 album “Shiri Yakangwara” belted from The Pub and Grill Bar – a busy watering hole near the Lusaka Inter-City Terminus – when this reporter struck a conversation with two Zambian brothers Maulani and John Phiri.
The elder brother, Maulani, who is based in Ndola, about 350 km away from the capital Lusaka, sprang to life upon discovering that this reporter was from Zimbabwe.
“Zimbabwe and Zambia are like one country, we enjoy your (Zimbabwean) music and we share some cultural traits,” he said with a beaming face.
The conversation inevitably shifted to Manyuchi, pronounced “Manuchi” in Zambian accent.
“That one is not only a boxer, he is an entertainer par excellence.
“People here love Charle (Manyuchi) and believe he is the next big thing to happen to Zambian boxing after the late Lottie Mwale,” John chipped in as he enjoyed a bottle of Mosi, the most popular beer in Lusaka.
Popularly known as Gunduzani, Mwale became the greatest boxer in Zambian history when he claimed the WBC International light heavyweight title with a knockout victory over Ray Acquaye of Ghana in Lusaka on December 2, 1990.
He died at 53 in 2005 and in Manyuchi most Zambians feel they have found a fitting heir apparent.
“Manuchi is neither Zimbabwean nor Zambian, he belongs to both nations.
“His achievements make us, Zambians, proud because we feel he is one of us,” John added.
The conversation was done and dusted by the time Dembo’s long album ended and it was time to head to Chilenje suburb, the equivalent of Harare’s Mbare.
It was in this suburb where the late national hero Dr Hebert Chitepo died when a car bomb placed in his Volkswagen Beetle exploded on March 18, 1975.
The taxi man who took us to Chilenje, a middle aged man who identified himself as Salani, knows about this part of history but he spoke more authoritatively when asked about Manyuchi.
“Manuchi is massive, I mean big business here,” said Salani.
“The last time he fought at the Government Complex we made a lot of money as thousands wanted to be transported to and from the venue,” Salani said.
Manyuchi’s last fight in Lusaka was on August 27, 2016 when he knocked out Deo Samwell of Tanzania in front of 3 000 fans at the Government Complex situated in the centre of Lusaka.
Manyuchi’s popularity was again brought to test last Wednesday when in between his afternoon and evening sessions, the boxer found time to stroll across the city centre in the company of this reporter and his Zambian manager Chris Malunga.
There was a mini stampede at Kulimatawa where kombis from the high density suburbs converge. Airtime vendors mobbed the Zimbabwean boxing star.
“Manuchi, Manuchi!” the public screamed upon realising the man dressed in sandals and a blue track bottom was actually their boxing champion. Some whispered loudly, “We hear he is preparing for a big fight in Singapore.”
Emmanuel Zulu, a butcher boy at Katuna’s who usually serves Manyuchi his favourite smoked sausage, believes the boxer will go far.
Manyuchi will get an inch closer to Zulu’s prediction if he retains his WBC Silver welterweight title against Abduqaxorov of Uzbekistan at the OCBC Arena in Singapore on March 25. AT FIRST sight he looks like the Mafia boss in some fictional drug cartel, his short pony tail and tattoos completing the look of a really nasty character.
This is no mob boss. Neither is he a nasty peice of work. Unless of course you happen to be a prize fighter and are under his charge in the gym.
This is Kim Grittings, a deceptively soft-spoken physical trainer whose main job right now is to work on Charles Manyuchi’s physique as the Zimbabwean prepares to defend his World Boxing Council International Silver welterweight title.
Grittings, who is of Arabian origin and based in Zambia, is the man looking after Manyuchi’s muscles and is confident that the work done so far will see the boxing star resist any onslaught in Singapore on March 25.
Getting him to speak at the Oriental Quarries Boxing Promotions gym in Zambia was difficult because, according to Manyuchi, Grittings prefers to let the results of his work do the talking.
“I like to spend most of my time in the gym and, yeah, I am working with Charles, mainly on his physique. You see, he needs to have a devastating punch, one that will send an opponent straight onto the canvas if it lands; so we have to work on his physical fitness,” said Grittings. “It is also important for the boxer to resist punches and we are working on every part of his body so that he becomes stronger.” Manyuchi will defend his WBC Silver welterweight title for the first time against 23-year-old Qudratillo Abduqaxorov of Uzbekistan at the OCBC Arena in Singapore next month in his first fight on Asian soil. And the 27-year-old boxer says he is in perfect shape, thanks to the work done by Grittings and the rest of the Oriental Quarries Boxing Promotions’ backroom staff. “Grittings is a cool guy, he has done a lot for me in the past two weeks and I am glad he is part of the team. Every part of my body is strong and I promise to deliver in Asia. But let me remind you, this is not all about Charles, it is about the whole boxing stable because as you have seen, everyone here plays his part,” said Manyuchi. Despite this being his first fight in Asia and facing a rising boxer who is the WBC Asian champion, Manyuchi is totally unfazed. “I am the master in the ring, it doesn’t matter that the ring is in Europe, Africa or Asia … where there is a ring, I am the boss. My fans back in Zimbabwe should be rest assured that the WBC Silver welterweight belt is not going anywhere,” he declared. Manyuchi’s opponent pushed his record to 10-0-0 after his latest victory against Idd Pialari of Tanzania in a non-title fight at the Far East Square in Singapore on February 10. For Manyuchi, this could simply mean a bigger meal.