Chimwemwe Chiotcha’s manager John Pelete has said he will negotiate with Limbani Masamba’s camp on the possibility of reducing Masamba’s resting period from three months to two months.
Pelete said this in reaction to sentiments by Masamba’s manager at Ayaya City Boxing Stable, Charles ‘Poison’ Nkhoma, that as per professional boxing rules, the 23-year-old needs to stay for three months before he returns to the ring, as he was knocked out in a fight last week.
Chiotcha, whose record indicates 10 victories and three defeats, has challenged for Masamba’s welterweight belt so that he can fulfil International Boxing Federation’s (IBF) order that he must win a bout within two months before he can be allowed to challenge for the IBF continental super middleweight title later this year.
The order came after the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) boxer lost his last fight to Tanzanian Francis Cheka in Dar es Salaam last month.
“Chiotcha needs to have a title before facing any international boxer and the belt that Masamba is holding is quite appetising. Moreover, we want to deal with Masamba for insulting MDF boxers after he won against Osgood Kayuni recently,” said Pelete.
He has even offered to solely promote the bout should anybody fail to meet the terms of the high profile fight. He, however, said they would settle for another opponent if Masamba’s stable insists on the three-month break.
But Nkhoma insited that the time frame Chiotcha’s camp has requested would be too short because Chiotcha will also need ample time to reduce his weight so as to be at par with Masamba, who is on his way back home after tainting his outstanding record of seven straight professional victories. He said Chiotcha is a middleweight boxer who needs to shed off at least 10kgs before the clash.
“Much as we respect Chiotcha’s challenge, we feel it is not on to break the rules just to make someone happy.
“As professionals, we need to respect the jurisdiction of boxing laws. We need to do things with a sober mind, otherwise, we would put ourselves in trouble,” said Nkhoma.
