Chiotcha hits out at match-maker over fee

Malawi Defence Force (MDF) boxer Chimwemwe Chiotcha has hit out at match maker and boxing promoter Craig Rousseau for deducting  K650 000 from his match pay.

Chiotcha claims the money was deducted from his World Boxing Council (WBC) middleweight title bout against Namibian Walter Kautondokwa held in Namibia on October 8.

Chiotcha told The Nation in an interview on Monday that prior to the fight, he was supposed to get K1.65 million, but he only received K1 million.

“I was surprised that the promoter  [Rousseau] gave me K1 million and upon enquiring, I was told that the K650 000 fee was for the match maker. I am not trying to discredit him, but I feel cheated.

“If I had been told before I left for Namibia that could have made sense,” claimed Chiotcha.

However, Rousseau countered Chiotcha’s claims, denying any wrongdoing.

“It was agreed before we left for Namibia that the agent in Namibia, the coach, myself and his promoter Jason Bowler will get a little commission. We have always done that.  Even when he went to fight in South Africa,  I got R2 000 [about K100 000] same as Bowler, coach and the agent.

“We gave him K1 million [R20 000],” said Rousseau

He said it was unfortunate that boxers either deliberately or knowingly overlook contractual obligations. n