Mtimaukanena frustrated

Local top female boxer Agnes Mtimaukanena has spoken of her frustrations following last Sunday’s failure of her non-title international bout against Kenyan Consolata Mosanga at the Blantyre Youth Centre (BYC).

Mtimaukanena and her manager, Winnie Sakala blamed the failure of the fight on logistical hitches as her Nairobi-based opponent and her team could not make the trip.

This was the second time on the trot that the former World Boxing Forum (WBF) middleweight champion’s bout failed to take place, a situation that has had an effect on her popularity culminating in her sponsorship contract with Pharmanova not being renewed.

Four months ago, her bid for an IBF welterweight title fell by the way side after failing to host another Kenyan, Florence Muthoni.

Mtimaukanena last took to the ring in March this year, when she lost on points to Zambian Loreta Muzeya.

“It is frustrating to go for such a long time [nine months] without a bout, especially after investing a lot of effort and time on preparations only to be let down at the 11th hour,” said Mtimaukanena who leaves the country today for Harare, Zimbabwe to prepare for her wedding with Brian Mwando on December 21.

She added: “For now, the focus is on my impending wedding, but I am looking forward to bouncing back into the ring early next year. I am looking at mid January or thereabout.”

But Mtimaukanena dismissed suggestions that the failure of her bouts means she is losing her spark.

“Of course, it looks quite abnormal because I am supposed to fight regularly, that is the only way I can gauge myself, but I cannot blame anyone, let alone myself, or my manager for the situation I find myself in.

“I believe I am still fit because I have been training regularly, but I still need to fight to see where I stand,” she said.

Sakala was on the defensive for the failure of the bouts, saying the reasons were beyond her.

“As for last Sunday’s fight, it was purely due to logistics because by the time I sent the money for the Kenyan team’s travel, it was already late and the buses were fully booked.

“We tried to revise the dates to have it mid-week, but it could have created a problem in terms of arrangements. We also could not push it to this coming weekend, so it was agreed that we shelve it for the time being. It was out of my hands really.

“As for the IBF welterweight title bout, it was postponed because there was a lot of money involved, but the opportunity to fight is still there because it is still vacant and we are trying to come up with fresh arrangements,” said Sakala.

She is yet to arrange a bout for Mtimaukanena since she took over as manager, but she remains optimistic that things will work out.

“It is also disappointing on my part, but we will get through it because as I said, it all had to do with logistics,” she said.

Meanwhile, Mtimaukanena has said her wedding will not affect her career, neither does she have plans to renounce Malawian citizenship.