Manyushi Retains WBF World Middleweight Title

Charles Manyushi successfully defended the World Boxing Federation (WBF) World Middleweight title on Saturday July 3 on the grounds outside the Flamboyant Hotel in Masvingo, Zimbabwe, fending off game challenger Mohamad Sebyala from Uganda.

It turned out to be a strange event, as governmental permission was only given a week or so before the fight-date, due to Covid concerns, and two WBF title fights set for the undercard were called off two days out when boxers were not allowed to enter Zimbabwe.

Then the entire undercard was canceled due to Covid restrictions, and finally one of the WBF judges assigned for the main event tested positive, forcing South African Elroy Marshal to become a scoring referee.

So with a total of 39 people, including technical staff, in attendance, Manyushi took control of his fight midway through, after losing the first two rounds, and won a deserved unanimous decision.

Judge Patrick Mkondiwa scored it 116-110, while judge Edward Marshall and scoring referee Elroy Marshall both had it 117-109.

Manyushi, who had not fought since winning the title in September of 2019, improved his professional record to 25-4-1 (15). Former Ugandan and East & Central Africa titlist Sebyala drops to 19-14-1 (16).

Promoter was Charles Manyushi Boxing Academy in association with Lionheart Boxing Productions.