Mzuzu’s boxing venue Obrigado Leisure Park has been closed for renovations until April next year, the facility’s owner Stewart Moyo has said.
The owner said the facility’s ring—the only one in the city—has outlived its lifespan.
“The renovations have already started and we expect to meet our timeframe,” said Moyo.
The venue has been operational for more than 12 years.
Mwayipopa Yahaya
Malawi Professional Boxing Control Board (MPBCB) president Lonzoe ‘Defector’ Zimba said the issue of the ring can best be tackled by promoters because as a board their core duty is to sanction bouts.
One of the boxing promoters in Mzuzu, Bagdad Mwamlima, said they will look for a new ring and identify alternative venues as well.
“It is a sad development because Obrigado Leisure Park is the only convenient venue for the sport in the city as it also had a standard ring,” he said.
Northern Region sports development officer Georgina Msowoya has since appealed to the corporate world to body to source more boxing rings in the region.
She said most sports disciplines in the region, including boxing, lack infrastructure.
“Government alone cannot deal with such shortage of infrastructure. That is why we are urging the corporate world to come forward and help,” Msowoya said. n
