adminLangton Nyakwenda
THE world boxing fraternity is grappling with the sad loss of American super welterweight Patrick Day who died on October 16, four days after suffering a brain injury in a 10th round stoppage defeat to Charles Cornwell in Chicago. The 27-year-old Day’s death becomes the fourth boxing catastrophe in recent months, following the passing on of Maxim Dadashev of Russia, Hugo Santillan of Argentina and Bulgaria’s Boris Stanchov.
Stanchov, 21, was caught by a left jab and stumbled backwards before collapsing into the ropes beside his corner last month.
Boxing is probably the most dangerous sport with a number of retired boxers suffering from brain diseases after enduring thousands of punches during their careers.
So dangerous has the sport become that a United Kingdom brain charity, Headway, is advocating for the ban of boxing.
After offering condolences and support to the late Day’s family, the charity’s chief, Peter Mccabe questioned: “How many more lives have to be needlessly damaged or lost before this senseless sport is banned?”
While the sweet science sport pays at the highest level, especially in America where the pay per view system has transformed boxing into a billion dollar industry, in Zimbabwe pugilists are fighting for crumbs.
Some boxers in Zimbabwe are fighting for as little as RTGS$150, an equivalent of US$10 on the interbank rate.
“Imagine fighting for RTGS$150, which is sometimes transferred via the Ecocash platform. Boxers are dying in the ring world over which should tell you how dangerous this sport is.
“Yet here in Zimbabwe we are fighting for peanuts, under the guise that we are fighting to build our records,” lamented one boxer who refused to be named.
The purses differ from one promotion stable to another. Some promoters are paying as high as RTGS$1000 per bout while others are offering between RTGS$200 and RTGS$350.
Promoters who spoke to The Sunday Mail Sport said they were finding it difficult to balance between paying a “reasonable” purse and staying viable in an inflationary environment.
“Truly speaking the economy is not good for any business or anyone. It’s actually so bad that promoters are forced to pay sick purses just because they can’t see the sport die.
“I do not blame the promoters really for they are trying their best. With me, I have never paid ill purses due to sponsors who are always by my side,” said Prosper Chibaya of Charles Manyuchi Sports Academy.
“I have NetOne which is now my partner for Charles Manyuchi Sports Academy, we have Tinmac, Mr T35, Philjen and Nyaradzo who whenever we have a tournament come to our rescue,” she added.
Respected promoter Stalin Mau Mau believes Zimbabwean boxing hasn’t reached a level where it can pay “handsomely.”
“It is hypocritical for anyone to criticize promoters. I do all my promotions with 100 per cent money from my own pocket and in doing so, I have to budget as well. By the way, I am doing this for charity. But if I don’t promote boxing then boxers won’t get into the ring and if a boxer doesn’t get into the ring then there is no career to talk about,” said Mau Mau.
“The purse is determined by the purse itself, we talk of what is available, what is the size of the cake to be shared. I am urging boxers to accept these peanuts for now, build their records and then go for the diamonds later.
“We cannot wake up and just improve the purse when our financial status is shaky. Boxers themselves have to sacrifice, everyone has to sacrifice.
“Matchmakers around the world look at how many fights a boxer has fought, they don’t care whether the match was fought in an empty arena or the boxers fought for nothing or a million dollars. It’s about the record and boxers themselves have to find alternative means of income and not rely solely on boxing.
“You can never go for diamonds before you get the peanuts, you can’t start with the diamonds.”
Renowned match maker and trainer Clyde Musonda agrees that things are tough on the local boxing scene and lamented the lack of sponsorship for the sport.
“The economy is changing every day. You sign a contract with a boxer today, by the time he fights the money you agreed on has been eroded by inflation,” he said.
“But, we can’t stop boxing, we have to keep the boxers active because they need to build their record. If we bow down to the economic pressure then there will be no boxing to talk about,” he said.
Online Reporter