Mtimaukanena camps in Zambia

Malawi’s top female boxer Agnes Mtimaukanena is in Zambia where she is camping at Oriental Boxing Stable ahead of her October 15 fight in Dubai, The Nation has learnt.

Her manager, Steve Msiska, confirmed the news in an interview on Tuesday saying she went to Zambia last week.

“She will be there for about seven days before she flies to Dubai for the fight. We have been invited by Zambian boxer Catherine Phiri who is also preparing for a title fight in Lusaka on October 20. It is a privilege for her to have Phiri as a sparring partner,” said Msiska.

However, retired Lt Colonel Jalare, claims Mtimaukanena is in Zambia after Msiska hijacked Happiness Nkhoma’s invitation.

“Happiness was expected to travel to Zimbabwe for a fight against Monalisa Sibanda and we got an invitation from Catherine Phiri to camp in Zambia ahead of the fight, but to our surprise Mr. Msiska hijacked the whole thing and sent Mtimaukanena instead. When I called Mr. Msiska on the matter, he did not cooperate,” said Jalare who trains Nkhoma.

Msiska acknowledged being questioned by Jalare over the matter, but said he did not hijack the deal. He said the invitation was offered by Phiri through the National Professional Boxing Committee (NPBC).

“It is wrong to say that we hijacked the invitation. We did not even know that Jalare was also in touch. It is unfortunate that this is getting personal. Mtimaukanena was invited as a sparring partner,” said Msiska.

NPBC president Lonzoe Zimba said it was wrong for Jalare to accuse Msiska of hijacking the invitation.

“When we (NPBC) heard that Happiness was preparing for a fight in Zimbabwe, we offered her an opportunity to camp in Lusaka and train with Catherine. We arranged everything with Oriental Boxing Stable to which Catherine is affiliated, but Happiness was not ready at the time because her manager (Jalare) was busy with Wellington Balakasi’s fight,” said Zimba

“We instead offered the invitation to Mtimaukanena because Oriental needed a sparring partner immediately. Happiness had the opportunity, but she did not take it and there is no need to point fingers at each other.”