National Sports

Depleted boxing team leaves for Zambia

Boxers John Masamba and Mussa Ajibu left on on Tuesday by road for Zambia for this Saturday’s international non-title fights at Lusaka’s Government Complex New Wing.

Masamba, who lost in his previous trip to Zambia, will slug it out with Gibson Kamota in bantamweight. The 2010 Zone VI gold medallist Ajibu will face former Zambian heavyweight champion Joseph Chingangu in the main bout.

Lusaka’s Oriental Quarries Boxing Promotions (OQBP) are the hosts and main sponsors of the Malawi boxers’ trip whose leader of delegation Lonzoe Zimba is self-sponsored.

Zimba, who is chairperson of the Professional Boxers Committee, was optimistic that Masamba would make the grade in the fight.

“Last time, Masamba lost on points, but his overall performance was not bad,” he said. Also travelling with the team is the committee’s general secretary Daud Chikwanje.

It is expected that the Zambia bouts will prepare the Malawi pugilists for Africa Boxing Union (ABU) fights which will be qualifiers for World Boxing Cup set for May 27.

The Malawi squad should have included Osgood Kayuni, Chimwemwe Chiotcha and Crispin Moliati, but Kayuni and Moliati could not be released as they are undergoing military training at Malawi Armed Forces College (Mafco) in Salima. Chiotcha’s opponent is reported unwell.

On Friday, Chikwanje insisted that the team had a budgetary shortfall for the trip and asked for help during the launch of Ayaya Boxing Stable in Chilomoni, Blantyre.

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