Query forces Maba to withdraw boxers’ certificates
Malawi Boxing Association (Maba) has withdrawn certificates its wing , the Professional Boxing Committee, issued to renowned boxers Wilson Masamba and Alick Mwenda on Monday after officially switching from the Malawi Professional Boxing Control Board (MPBCB).
Confirming the development yesterday, Maba president Justice Katika said the decision was made after noting that the certificates bear the name Pro Malawi Boxing Board instead of Maba Professional Boxing Committee.
in a fight
He said the change follows a query from MPBCB, which is arguing that the name Pro Malawi Boxing Board would be easily confused with the Malawi Professional Boxing Control Board.
“There is a mistake with the certificates so we are withdrawing them and we shall replace them with newly designed ones. We appreciate the observation which MPBCB has made,” he said.
Other boxers such as Chimwemwe Chiotcha and Mussa Ajibu have recently dumped MPBCB for the Maba Professional Boxing Committee, a development that has created friction between the two wings.
But Katika moved to pour water on the tension, saying the Maba professional wing is meant to promote boxers that graduate from their amateur pool.
“We are not in a fight over who owns which boxer. The well-established boxers have been welcomed to our professional wing because it’s their decision to switch their allegiance. We did not coax them. Otherwise, our core focus remains nurturing boxers that are coming from amateur stables,” he said.
In the meantime, the MPBCB president Lonzoe Zimba confirmed having complained over the use of the name Pro Malawi Boxing Board on the certificates.
“It is easy for some people to confuse the name with that of our institution. That is why we complained. Let them put their real name on those certificates,” he said.
Meanwhile, Maba Professional Boxing Committee chairperson Daud Chikwanje argued that there was no reason for MPBCB to worry about the names.
“You can use board or commission or committee. They all represent the same thing. It is them [MPBCB] who are just confusing the people,” he said. n
