Boxers urged to take medical examinations

Mukondiwa said they were glad that a number of boxers went for their medical examinations.
“This year was fine for the boxers as most of them managed to go for their medicals. They have to be tested for HIV/Aids and hepatitis B.  If they are medically fine then they can fight,” he said.
Mukondiwa said most professional boxers had done well during the year and that it was unfortunate that two of the country’s boxers were stripped of their titles.

“Most of our boxers did well during the year in countries such as South Africa, Malawi, Zambia and Namibia. Boxers such as Victor Moyo, Tafadzwa Kuchocha and Diana Makumbe all did well,” he said.
Kuchocha  competed in Malawi and won two out three matches. Kuchocha dislocated his shoulder and the referee adjudged that it was a knockout and hence he lost the fight.
Mukondiwa said it was unfortunate that two boxers lost their World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organisation titles.

Zimbabwe’s heavyweight champion Thamsanqa Dube was stripped of the World Boxing Association Pan African heavyweight title. He won the title on 2 April 2009 when he beat Jake Els of South Africa and had not defended it since.
His last international fight was against Flo Simba were he was knocked out in the third round of eight.

Tinei Maridzo was also stripped of an international World Boxing Organisation Africa Super Middleweight title.
Maridzo won the title after beating Michael Schultz in South Africa on 8 July 2010.

He has not fought since then.
“Thamsanqa (Dube) was lucky that they let him keep the belt for almost a year. It is normal that if you are inactive you are stripped of the title in six months. It is a loss to the country but we know that is how it has to go,” he said.

Mukondiwa said Dube might not be considered for another shot at a title because he performed badly in his last fight.
He said Dube had himself to blame for his performance against Simba as he had not trained hard.
“He was not training and hence his poor performance. He only has himself to blame,” he said.