Despite landing the most punches, Happiness Nkhoma failed to wrest the World Boxing Forum (WBF) belt from holder Agnes Mtimaukanena on Saturday at Nankhaka Stadium in Lilongwe.
Judges scored the fight in favour of Mtimaukanena.
After 10 rounds of a gruelling fight, judge William Selekete from Zambia scored 94-98, Getrude Sinjale 95-100 and Andy Muyaya 93-100 in favour of the reigning champion.
Although the verdict did not please some fans, Nkhoma accepted defeat and blamed it on the positioning of referee Jerome Waluza.
“The referee was not well positioned and, as such, failed to detect fouls. Agnes was butt-heading me and I resorted to holding her. This led to judges reducing my points,” said Nkhoma.
But Mtimaukanena said she was never in doubt of victory.
“She [Happiness] talked a lot prior to the fight. I told my fans that I will talk in the ring. I have proved my point,” said Mtimaukanena who was accompanied by her fiancé, Zimbabwean boxer Brian Mwando.
Her coach Issa Phiri said their strategy was to let Nkhoma wear herself out and then hit her.
Osgood Kayuni’s fight against a Tanzanian opponent did not take place because the latter was still in transit to Malawi.
Promoter of the fight Tawonga Tembo could not shed more light on the failed bout. But she expressed satisfaction with the turn up and the result of the main bout.
“It was a great fight and both boxers demonstrated that they prepared well. The fans were also wonderful,” she said.
Rodrick Mbetewa described the result of the main bout as a ‘farce.’
“I think we got a raw deal as fans. The standard of the fight was very poor. How could a Tanzanian opponent arrive on the day of the fight? This is pure trickery,” he said.
