Masamba gears up for two international fights

Boxer Wilson Masamba’ is gearing up to face foreign opponents in non-title fights as he bids to rebuild his career after serving a three-month ban for verbally abusing the Malawi Professional Boxing Control Board (MPBCB).

His return from the ban started on a negative note after he suffered a knockout loss to Tanzanian Jonas Segutz in Dar-es-Salam last Saturday.

Masamba, in an interview on Monday, said his next fight is on July 3 this year against Zambian Muhammad Kashinde in Lilongwe while in August he will face Tanzanian Sandali Nyambaya.

“I just want to concentrate on international fights. I was disappointed to lose in Tanzania, but I am optimistic I can win the two fights,” he said.

There was confusion over how Masamba lost to Segutz with some reports indicating he lost on points while others say it was a knockout defeat.

But Masamba himself said it was a technical knockout after his opponent battered him out of the ring in the process injuring is head.

“The referee stopped the fight and declared Jonas the winner because he felt that it was unsafe for me to carry on,” he said.

But Masamba found comfort in the loss saying it would spur him to victories, saying: “I will work hard to be fit enough against the upcoming opposition.”

Meanwhile, the MPBCB has confirmed clearing Masamba to return to the ring after his initial six-month ban was reduced to three months.

“He appealed and we decided to cut the ban by half,” said MPBCB president Lonzoe Zimba.

He attracted the wrath of the board after describing it as “a bunch of ineffective individuals who do nothing to promote the sport in the country”.