Promoter accuses Maba of sabotage
Ngumi Boxing Promotions director Steven Mawenzi Msiska has accused Malawi Boxing Association (Maba) of sabotaging an international bout he is organising for Malawi Defence Force (MDF) boxer Chimwemwe Chiotcha.
Chiotcha was supposed to face Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) boxer Kasongo Cherifu in an eliminator bout at Blantyre Youth Centre (BYC) today but the match has been shifted to a later date due to Maba’s delay to produce a supporting letter for the promoter to make visa applications for Cherifu and his four fellow countrymen, who will feature in supporting encounters.
Msiska claims immigration officials told him to attach a supporting letter from the local boxing mother body to the visa application to authenticate that the foreigners are coming for bouts. But, according to Msiska, Maba is not forthcoming despite several reminders.
The international bout, meant to set the path for Chiotcha to fight for the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) continental super middleweight belt against a yet-to-be-identified opponent in Blantyre later this year, was initially scheduled for August 25 but it was shifted to today following some logistical problems.
“We suspect sabotage on the part of Maba. It has been about a month since we made the request to Maba but still we have not received a reply. Therefore, we have no other option but to shift the dates further,” Msiska said.
When asked about the next date of the bouts, Msiska said that would be known after the visas are processed as he has to inform the DRC boxers on when they should come to Malawi for the event.
However, Maba vice-president Henry Sakala, who is said to have been the main player on the letter request, could not be reached for comment. Maba general secretary said he could not shed more light on the issue because everything was left in the hands of Sakala.
