Professional boxers believe Ezra has ignored them

By Joseph Batte

EVERY one emitted a sigh of relief when business tycoon Michael Ezra rescued Ugandan amateur boxing from falling into an abyss.

However, what the well-moneyed businessman didn’t do was to extend a similar generous hand to the home-based boxers who trade punches for money—the professionals. So, while amateur boxers are smiling, professional fighters are cursing instead having lost lucrative deals.

This was revealed by a downcast Emmanuel Mwesigwa, public relations officer of Gobtex International Promotions who are organising the Africa Boxing Union welterweight title fight between Uganda’s Badru Lusambya and Aswald Maneno of Tanzanian on March 20 at Nakivubo.

“Every time we approach sponsors, we are turned away with reminders, ‘Capo wamwe Michael Ezra ebintu yabitereza,’ kati ate mwagala ki? (Capo Michael Ezra caters for you, what else do you need now?),” Mwesigwa mourned as he threw his hands in the air in despair.

He complained that most prospective sponsors and many people in the public don’t tell the difference between professional and amateur boxing.

“Amateur boxing is under the Ezra Boxing Board while Uganda Professional Boxing Commission, whose president is Celestino Mindra, governs prize-fighting in the country.”

The public relations officer added that though they fight for money, professional boxing still needs sponsorship to thrive.

“That’s why television channels like HBO and ESPN 1 and 2 in American come in to sponsor fights. Unfortunately for us, we don’t have that sort of privilege in Uganda.”

Mwesigwa said so far only Salim Saleh, Motoyoshi Motoring Company and Knock-Out Varagi, have responded to their pleas for sponsorship. “But what they offer is still not enough.”