No pain no gain to promote amateur boxing

No pain No gain Boxing Promotions has organised 10 amateur boxing bouts this Sunday at Mkango Lodge in Blantyre as one way of promoting amateur boxers.

According to the boxing promotion’s director Craig Rousseau, the amateur boxing feast has been organised jointly with Mchinji Boys Boxing Promotions who have also organised the main professional bout between Charles Misanjo and Limbani Masamba on the day.

“Amateur boxers are being neglected and, sadly, the focus is now on a finished product that is the professional boxer.

“We are forgetting that before a boxer turns professional, he or she has to start as an amateur. The focus is now on professional boxers and by so doing, we are slowly killing the sport because we are neglecting the nursery,” said Rousseau.

He said those that will emerge winners in the amateur bouts will be groomed and supported with equipment, training and a small token.

One of the promising amateur boxers who will take to the ring is 22-year-old Frank Kanyenda.

“He has all the essentials of soccer—the movement, speed and reflexes—it’s only the techniques that he has to work on,” said Rousseau.

Mchinji Boys director Justice Katika said the professional bout between former light-middleweight champion Misanjo and welterweight champion Masamba has been organised to support the cause of amateur boxers.

“We felt by staging a professional bout involving two well-known boxers, it will coax more people to come,” said Katika.