Happiness Nkhoma’s international fight in limbo

The much-awaited international non-title fight between Malawi’s female boxer Happiness Nkhoma and Kenyan Charity Makami, which was supposed to take place on June 30, has been postponed indefinitely.

Promoters of the fight Ngumi Boxing Promotions confirmed the indefinite postponement of the fight on Tuesday.

According to the promoters’ director Steven Msiska, one of the reasons for the postponement is that he lost his son a fortnight ago.

“It was difficult for me to continue organising the fight after the bereavement that befell me. But the project is on and we just have to arrange for another date,” said Msiska in telephone interview.

But Nkhoma’s manager and trainer retired Lieutenant Colonel Godfrey Jalare said he has lost hope that the fight will ever take place.

“Since Mr. Msiska brokered the deal, we were never given a contract regarding the fight. This is unusual because we were supposed to be in the know. I was just told that my boxer will have an international fight,” said Jalare.

He said he will not allow his boxer to fight until there is a contract which must come three weeks before the fight. Jalare said much as Happiness is desperate for an international fight, they will not rush things.

Msiska acknowledged not giving Nkhoma a contract, but said they are still working on it.

“We will give them a contract. These things take time as we are still working on some logistics, but I can assure you that we will give them a contract,” he said.

Meanwhile, Jalare said they have found sponsorship for Agnes Mtimaukanena’s fight.

“Mr Saulosi Thindwa, through his firm, have agreed to sponsor the local fight between Mtimaukanena and Happiness. If this international fight fails, we hope to have Mtimaukanena fight my boxer,” said Jalare.

He could, however, not disclose how much the fight will be worth.

A 2010 fight between the two ended in a draw.