Mtimaukanena intensifies preps for 1st title bout
Malawi’s top female professional boxers Agnes Mtimaukanena has intensified preparations for her first title bout against Kenyan Susan Adezo for the light middleweight World Boxing Forum (WBF) belt.
Organiser of the bout Stevie Msiska of Ngumi Boxing Promotions has engaged Charles Nembele and Andy Muyaya to drill Mtimaukanena in the countdown to the bout that will be staged at Nankhaka Ground in Lilongwe on May 6.
Msiska said Nembele is training the female pugilist on the physical part whereas Muyaya is taking care of the technical aspect.
Mtimaukanena said she is happy with the progress she has made so far in her preparations.
“I cannot ask for better trainers than Nembele and Muyaya and I am certain that by the time I take to the ring against Adezo, I will be in shape.
“This will be an important bout for me, being my first title bout and I have stepped up my preparations,” said Mtimaukanena as she took a break from her physical training.
The 20-year-old boxer has a record of three wins, a draw and no loss since she turned professional.
Her 28-year-old opponent’s record could not be established as of on Saturday.
According to Msiska, the bout will be officiated by Anthony Ruta from Tanzania.
Meanwhile, the National Professional Boxing Committee (NPBC) has granted a licence to Happiness Nkhoma to become the first Malawian female boxer to register as a local professional.
Nkhoma is set to fight her first international professional middleweight non-title bout against Tanzanian Faraha Iskali-Nganda. It will curtain-raise Mtimaukanena’s bout.
Nkhoma has become the country’s second professional boxing licence holder after Mtimaukanena who got hers from a Tanzanian body a few months ago.
Her manager Mbachichi Nyirenda said he is happy that Nkhoma has finally been granted a professional licence having fought at amateur level for about seven years.
“If she wins the forthcoming bout, we are planning for better things together with Msiska,” said Nyirenda.
Nganda has won two of her three professional bouts so far and has lost once.
