The Sunday Mail
BANTAMWEIGHT boxer Tinashe “Chairman” Madziwana believes he was the victim of a hometown decision following his defeat to Joseph “Smokey” Hilongwa in Ondangwa, Namibia on Easter weekend.
The 26-year-old lost on points to the former World Boxing Federation super flyweight champion after all three judges scored in favour of the Namibian pugilist.
Madziwana, who lost the eight round bout 223-230, insists he was robbed and the Namibian media have reported significantly about the “unpopular decision”.
According to The Namibian newspaper, there was commotion after the bout as Madziwana argued the result was unfair.
The Namibian Sun said Madziwana threw himself onto the canvas when the decision was announced while an unhappy crowd chanted his name in support.
“The main highlight of the night was the judges’ unpopular decision in the bantamweight match between Namibia’s Joseph ‘Smokey’ Hilongwa and Tinashe Madziwana of Zimbabwe,” reads a report in the paper.
Craig Rousseau, whose No Pain No Gain stable handles Madziwana, accused the judges of robbing his pugilist of a deserved victory.
“Look here, we are trying to build the profile of this young man. . .he has great potential, we want to make him a champion and we get this kind of officiating?
“Our boy actually won that fight. What happened in Namibia was not correct,” fumed Rousseau, who is pushing for a rematch on neutral soil.
Madziwana’s trainer Clyde Musonda called the defeat daylight robbery.
“Tinashe was robbed, that was a clear hometown decision. This happens a lot in boxing but it is unfortunate,” said Musonda.
A hometown decision is described by respected website BoxRec as a decision in which a boxer, fighting in or near his hometown, is given every benefit of the doubt by the judging officials.
“Thus, although beaten by his opponent, he may be given a draw, or even the win,” explains BoxRec.
Through the pain of being “robbed” Madziwana has vowed to continue pushing his way to a continental title shot.
“I have the talent and no one can take that from me. I will continue soldiering on because I know one day I will conquer the continent and the world at large,” he said.
The loss was Madziwana’s first in four bouts since joining No Pain No Gain last year.
His next fight is in Botswana against Tefo Letshikgwane on April 29 with No Pain No Gain reaffirming their confidence in him.
