Great expectations in boxing

Sports Reporter

MOST local boxers are disillusioned and uncertain about their future, especially after 2023 saw a disappointingly low number of competitions.

Save for Charles Manyuchi’s farewell tournaments, which were staged in Harare and Chivhu, and Aliyah Phiri’s African Boxing Union (ABU) bout held in December, there was nothing much to talk about last year.

Some boxers are now seriously thinking about their future in the sport, while others have resorted to other pursuits to complement meagre proceeds from the sport.

However, there could be light at the end of the tunnel following a pledge by veteran promoter Stalin Mau Mau to stage more tournaments in 2024.

In particular, he intends to elevate his “Peanuts to Diamonds” boxing series to a new level.

“Perhaps I am the only promoter in the world who promotes boxing to make losses,” the 69-year-old told The Sunday Mail Sport.

He envisages a scenario where local pugilists have more fights to cement their records and ratings on renowned platforms such as Boxrec.

“We have a dream, and the dream is to produce more champions in Zimbabwe.

“It’s sad that every year we talk about resuscitating the sport; this is because the frequency of tournaments is showing that boxing in the country has been on a decline.

“But 2023 was the worst in terms of boxing tournaments,” lamented Mau Mau.

Although Zimbabwe has had internationally recognised champions in recent years, the boxing promoter feels the country also needs to regularly host national championship bouts.

“National championships are important but they have not been happening for a long time, so we are going to hold a lot of tournaments to promote such in 2024 with the help of the boxing board.

“I attach strong importance to the hosting of national championship fights because they help to rate our boxers.”

There are very few recognised national champions in Zimbabwe because of the few tournaments on the local boxing calendar.

“We need to have a rescue attitude towards boxing. Yes, it is very taxing to host a tournament without corporate support, but I will keep sacrificing the little I have.

“What’s important is for the boxer to have more fights, even if he or she fights for peanuts in the initial stages.

“When international promoters look at a boxer’s record, they don’t care whether that boxer fought for a dollar or in front of a huge crowd. A record is a record.”

But for this to be achieved, Mau Mau reckons, the concept of co-promotion should be taken seriously.

“There should be co-existence among local promoters because we are not competing.

“We are all after the development of the boxer and then make money later. Even the corporates, they will only come to support if they see progress.

“In that vein, I would like to applaud Otto Boxing Promotions for hosting a beautiful tournament . . . in December last year.”

Ali “Otto” Phiri, who also trains ABU lightweight champion Aliyah Phiri, hosted the continental bout between Israel Kamwamba of Malawi and Phiri on December 8.

Hundreds of fans, predominantly from the white community, cheered on as Phiri claimed the belt after a second-round TKO win.

“As promoters, we are also appealing to the corporate world to come in and assist promoters. They (corporates) should know that there is a reciprocal benefit which they can get if they sponsor boxing . . . Interest in the sport is there among Zimbabweans and the numbers are there.”

X: @LangtonGuraz