For the first time, a local boxing promotion will host international and national title bouts under one roof.
 The fights to be held on September 28 at Robin’s Park in Malawi’s commercial hub, Blantyre, courtesy of Ngumi Boxing Promotions, will surely be a Malawi boxing history in the making.
The Steven Msiska-managed stable will bring Tanzanian boxer Allan Kamote who will fight Wellington Balakasi in a 10-round World Boxing Forum ( WBF) Continental lightweight title as the main bout of the night.
The curtain-raiser will be another intentional fight as Agnes Mtimaukanena will be defending her WBF title she won in May against Kenyan Susan Adenso. This time around, Mtimaukanena’s opponent is Ugandan Shabila Namaaga.
Apart from the WBF, the two women boxers will also be fighting for the Universal Boxing Organisation ( UBO) lightweight belt.
On the night, Limbani Masamba and Charles Misanjo will fight for the welterweight belt.
Msiska said they are almost through with contractual agreements with all the boxers.
“We want to give Malawians a taste of international standards, where a number of title fights are held at a single venue,” he said.
He also said they are taking precautionary measures on Namaaga, who is coming from a country where there is an outbreak of the deadly Ebola disease.
National Professional Boxing Committee (NPBC) general secretary Daudi Chikwanje, while commending the development, said it is not allowed to stage two international title fights on the same night.
“They have just communicated to us verbally, so we will wait for a written communication to make our stand,” said Chikwanje.
But Malawi Boxing Association (Maba) vice-general secretary Henry Sakala said there is no restriction on the number of title fights, whether local or international, a promoter can host on a day.
“It all depends on the capacity of the promoter in handling the demands of the boxers at once,” said Sakala.
Msiska also said they have a go ahead from WBF and UBO to stage the fights on the same day.
Mtimaukanena said she is ready for the challenge as she sets to prove critics wrong after her win in May against Kenyan Susan Adenso was diluted with talks that her opponent was not qualified.
“The one who is coming is a strong boxer. I cannot wait for my second challenge. I want to show the country that I am a good boxer by making sure the belt remains here,” said Mtimaukanena, who is rated 22 in the world.
According to www.boxrec.com, the Ugandan has four bouts to her credit with a single win, two losses and a draw.
Her last high-profile bout was last December against highly rated Kenyan Conjestina Achieng who is fifth in the world and was the first African female boxer to hold a world title.
Kamote, who is already in the country, said he has come on a revenge mission after losing to Osgood Kayuni earlier this year. His loss on points was protested by fans who said he had an upper hand and should have won.
Kamote’s records on www.boxrec.com show that he has fought 24 times, winning 17, including nine knockouts, five losses and four draws.
