Malawian boxer risks life ban
Malawian boxer Simeon Tcheta risks a life ban for suspiciously giving up on the 12-round World Boxing Organisation (WBC) Africa middleweight title bout against Namibian Lucas Ndafoloma last Saturday in Namibia.
This follows a complaint the Namibian Professional Boxing Board made to Malawi Professional Boxing Board of Control (MPBCB) alleging that Tcheta fixed the loss.
MPBCB president Lonzoe Zimba confirmed in an interview yesterday getting the complaint from their Namibian counterparts about Tcheta.
He described the boxer’s conduct as a serious disciplinary matter; hence, the board is also investigating.
“According to the information we got from our Namibian counterpart, the medical officials found him okay to continue with the fight, but he chose to remove the gloves. This is a serious disciplinary allegation that as board, we will need to act on and if found to be true that he fixed the loss he will be banned for life from the sport.
Zimba said the athletes represent the country and it is a disgrace to the board to keep boxers with unsporting conduct.
Tcheta declined to comment on the matter when contacted yesterday.
His manager and trainer Clyde Musonda of Delta Force Boxing Academy of Zimbabwe was quoted by The Nation as having said the boxer’s performance raised eyebrows and was a disgrace.
“We were disgraced, considering that it was the main fight,” he said.
Tcheta’s fight was the headliner of the MTC Salute Boxing Academy’s bonanza which had 12 fights, but the Malawian, 24, surprisingly failed to produce a single punch and removed his gloves in the first round although medical official deemed him fit to continue with the fight.
Meanwhile, boxing analyst Gabriel Kondowe has advised the board to establish the reason behind the boxer’s unsporting display before rushing to endorse the life ban.
“I am not surprised with the boxer’s conduct. He was supposed to rest for three months after a knockout result in Tanzania last month, but due to financial demands, he may end up accepting to fight before three months elapse. This means the professional boxing body must not rush to ban the boxer,” he said.
Tcheta now has a record of 10 wins, four defeats and one no contest.
His opponent has 19 wins, three defeats and one no contest.
Another Malawian boxer, Charles Misanjo also lost to Namibian opponent Alfeus Shilongi on points in a 10-round fight.
