Ndlovu, Znider blast ZBF

Lovemore Dube Senior Sports Editor
PROMINENT Zimbabwean boxing personalities Boris Znider and Phillip Striker Ndlovu have criticised the Zimbabwe Boxing Federation’s stance to turn its boxers professional. The development announced yesterday by ZBF will see amateurs who want to graduate to the paid ranks, fighting within their ranks.

In the past they would move to the professional ranks where they would be under promoters like Stalin Mau Mau, Lorraine Murinye, Dumisani “Ntathe” Mabhena, Eddison Junior Zvobgo and the late Jeff Dube. According to AIBA, its affiliates like the ZBF are now a wholesome package under one body consisting of AIBA Open Boxing (AOB) for former amateurs and AIBA Professional Boxers (APB) for professionals.

ZBF secretary-general, Goodwill Sibanda said the boxing board decided to adopt the new AIBA guidelines after the realisation that the federation was losing its boxers to “dubious” promoters affiliated to the Zimbabwe National Boxing and Wrestling Control Board(ZNBWCB).

He also said at times boxers were rushed into turning professional while still developing. In the past some boxers have turned professional frustrated with being overlooked for events such as the Zone Six, All-Africa Games and Olympics. The decision which has long been coming after an announcement was made by the international amateur boxing board more than four years ago, could create unnecessary conflict within the boxing fraternity in the world. In Zimbabwe, professional boxing has been in the hands of the Zimbabwe Board of Boxing and Wrestling Control through an Act of Parliament of 1957. Amateur boxers as soon as they felt good enough to make a living out of the leather gloves, have graduated to ZBBWC.

“ZBF must stick to amateur boxing and let boxers graduate to professional ranks under ZBBWC. That has been the norm all over the world and it has worked,” said Znider. Amateur boxing is the entry point for all boxers. When athletes turn professional there is no commitment for them to compensate the amateur ranks as often there are no binding contracts between the boxer and the amateur board. Complaints in the past have been that professional boxing is getting a refined product that they would not have invested anything on. But Znider like Jeff Dube’s Rampage Ring, Blow by Blow and Zvobgo’s stables have supported amateur boxing before.

“We have always supported amateur boxing. They must stay there and appreciate that being professional is regulated by an Act of Parliament.

“They must stay where they are at the moment, it has been a good relationship all over the world where amateurs are nurtured for the professional ranks. If there is a need for dialogue over financial support that can be discussed,” said Znider.

Znider like trainer Ndlovu was of the view that local amateur boxing still has a mountain to climb as there was still to be notable successes at World Championships and the Olympics where Zimbabwean boxers have been failing to qualify. Ndlovu a renowned boxing trainer said it was necessary for such a stance. He said the future did not look good for the venture adding that the move could have been as a result of the amateur bodies wanting a piece of the cake from the highly lucrative professional boxing ranks.

“In Europe where the idea was hatched not much ground has been covered. I would have thought the old set up was healthy perhaps the need to make money is behind the idea,” said Ndlovu who at one stage ruled the roost as championship coach in the middleweights.

Then Sipho Moyo was the super middleweight king, Ambrose Mlilo and later Mordicai Donga middleweight and Fredrick Chisoro (light middleweight). Attracting the same media attention as brands like World Boxing Council, World Boxing Association, World Boxing Organisation, World Boxing Union, World Boxing Federation, International Boxing Organisation and the International Boxing Federation will not be easy.

It is unlikely that renowned promoters like Frank Warren, Jay-Z, Don King and Rodney Berman will spare a thought for the new boxing federation. The World Boxing Council is the most prestigious one and every boxer dreams of fighting under it.

Perhaps the failure to come up with an amicable solution to compensation when a boxer turns professional has prompted amateur boxing boards to go their own way and introduce their own paid ranks. Or, it is mere greed by those in the amateurs.

Over the past century amateur boxing has been an entry point for any budding pugilist. When the time is ripe the boxer then turns professional and starts earning a living from his fights. It has not been all gloom for amateurs as thousands all over the globe have been lucky to get jobs in the army, police force and prisons.

A majority of Zimbabwe’s boxers of the past Ambrose Mlilo, Ndaba Dube, Victor Ndebele, Fredrick Chisoro, Nokuthula Tshabangu, Mike Foloma, Amasah Nhenjana, Simon Ngulube, Trust Ndlovu, Sanderson Nyebai, Fundisi Moyo, Arigoma Chiponda, Simon Sankulani, Ezwell Ndlovu, Petros Masiyambumbi, Clyde Musonda and Israel Dongo came from the uniformed forces.

Sport and Recreation Commission sport development director Joseph Muchechetere said he was not aware of the ZBF move. He promised to check with his office this morning.