Representatives of professional boxing bodies within southern Africa have stepped up efforts to curb incidents of exploitation which professional boxers are being subjected to during international fights.
The bodies have been meeting in South Africa from Friday, with the country being represented by Malawi Professional Boxing Control Board (MPBCB) President, Lonzoe ‘Defector’ Zimba, and spokesperson Frank Chibisa.
Speaking in a telephone interview from South Africa, Zimba said officials want to protect boxers from ill-treatment.
“It has emerged that some promoters dupe boxers by manipulating contracts during title and non-title international fights. They manipulate figures; so we want to stop such things.
“Among other things, it has been agreed that we, promoters, should be sending contracts directly to the boards where they can be cross-checked if they have not been manipulated,” he said.
Zimba said most measurers that the regional bodies will undertake will be disclosed at the end of the convention.
“We are doing this for the sake of boxers’ welfare. We do not want them to suffer or some misguided individuals to reap where they did not sow,” he said.
Local boxer Wilson ‘Shasha Hard Hitter’ Masamba described the meeting as long overdue.
“We needed this meeting to help address problems which we encounter in our career. There are times when we get our pay in bits after fighting. It is good that something is happening to promote our welfare,” Masamba said.
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