MPBCB encroaches Maba territory
Malawi Professional Boxing Control Board (MPBCB) has declared that it will start sanctioning amateur boxing programmes.
The development is in contradiction with an early agreement with Malawi Boxing Association (Maba) which is mandated to run amateur boxing.
But MPBC on Wednesday issued a press release explaining that it has been given the mandate by Africa Boxing Union (ABU) and World Boxing Council (WBC).
dumped MPBCB and joined Maba
ABU has responded to Amateur International Boxing Associations’ (Aiba) move to empower its member associations, including Maba to be sanctioning professional boxing, according the statement released by MPBCB.
The statement reads: “The MPBCB advises that recently owing to developments in the wider boxing community the ABU/WBC especially in response to Aiba’s move to mandate its affiliates to organise and run amateur boxing, boxing clubs registered under MPBCB are now also allowed to train amateur boxers.”
MPBCB also said it would send boxers to an international amateur tournament which ABU and South African Boxing Federation will organise on an unannounced date.
In an interview yesterday, Maba president Justice Katika said they have no problem with MPBCB venturing into amateur boxing, stating that it will help the country to nurture more boxing talent.
“Looking at the whole situation in a positive way; it is good for boxing because sometimes our institution doesn’t have enough resource to develop talent. It is, therefore, pleasing that MPBCB has decided to help us in that area,” he said.
The criss-crossing of roles between the two bodies has triggered tension with the MPBCB arguing that it will confuse boxers.
So far some renowned boxers such as Wilson Masamba and Alick Mwenda have dumped MPBCB to join Maba’s professional wing.
In the meantime, MPBCB has said that boxers that have joined Maba will not be allowed to contest in bouts under ABU and WBC.
“Boxers registered under another professional boxing body in Malawi are not eligible to fight for titles under the ABU and WBC. Further to this, boxers registered under the new professional boxing body are not allowed to fight against boxers registered with bodies that are affiliated to the ABU and WBC,” the statement reads. n
