Muchapondwa edges closer to British title bid

UNDEFEATED United Kingdom-based Zimbabwean boxer Tamuka Muchapondwa has vowed to make a strong statement in his bid to challenge for the coveted British welterweight title when he takes on Englishman Rob Hunt in a non-title fight in Swindon next month.

BY DANIEL NHAKANISO

Tamuka Muchapondwa celebrates after his victory over Northern Irishman Paddy Gallagher at the Wembley Arena in London last year

The 24-year-old, who has won all 16 of his professional fights to date, will headline the Neilson Boxing’s Show in South West England on April 15 after Swindon-based Kelvin Young was forced to withdraw from his fight against Hunt due to medical reasons.

Thirty-one-year-old Hunt, an experienced tall and rangy opponent, has won 24 of his 31 contests but the rising Zimbabwean boxer, who grew up in Harare’s Glen View suburb before moving to the UK in 2004 at the age of 11, remains confident.

In an interview with Standardsport from his base in Reading, England, Muchapondwa said he believes Hunt is the perfect opponent before he takes on British and Commonwealth champion Bradley Skeete in the near future.

“I have a fight coming up soon against a boxer called Rob Hunt; he has a good record — 31 fights and 24 wins. I think this will be a good fight for me and it will help me to prepare for the British champion Bradley Skeete. I’m looking forward to it and I want to make a statement in my win and put on a good performance to stay on the right course to win the British title,” he said.

Muchapondwa is not leaving anything to chance ahead of the big fight and recently intensified his preparations by taking part in sparring sessions with Scottish boxer Josh Taylor, the current Commonwealth Games super lightweight champion.

“So far my preparations are going very well. I have been mostly sparring with Josh Taylor, the super lightweight commonwealth champion and gaining great experience from it. I feel ready and I’m prepared physically and mentally because I want to make sure that I stay undefeated,” he said.

Muchapondwa’s profile in British boxing has been on a steady rise since his impressive victory by majority decision over Northern Irishman Paddy Gallagher in a British title eliminator last November which extended his undefeated professional record to 16 fights.

The contest was described by critics, including promoter and former world champion Barry McGuigan, as the fight of the night, even topping the main event that saw Englishman George Groves retain his WBA International super-middleweight title against Germany’s Eduard Gutknecht.

https://www.thestandard.co.zw/2017/03/26/muchapondwa-edges-closer-british-title-bid/