10 Aug 2022

 The issue of financial support in professional boxing  continue to impede the sport.

With adequate funding, professional boxing can be rewarding.

In an interview, president of Professional Boxing Association of Botswana (PBAB), Seroba Binda, said boxing must not only be seen as platform where boxers square in a rings for the love and enjoyment of fans, but must in the process reward boxers to better their livelihoods.

He said that could be attained by boxing stables consistently holding professional bouts with good incentives for the boxers.

Apart from benefitting the boxers, the officials, sponsors, venue owners and entertainers are among groupd that stand to benefit. However, he said there had been notable efforts by professional stables who pulled strings to host professional bouts.

As a result, Binda announced that Scud Missile would on August 26 hold a fight for the vacant WBF Lightweight Title, featuring Steven Bagwasi of Botswana with Said Shino of Tanzania.

 The curtain raiser to the main bout will feature the Super Bantam Weight WBF Africa Champion, Moabi Ngaka against an opponent yet to be announced from South Africa.

He said such fights had potential to draw boxing fanatics into the country and as such required financial support.

Due to financial constraints, Binda said professional boxing was not able to stay active throughout the year by holding tournaments therefore giving boxers an opportunity to generate income.

He said the current committee had been mandated to lure sponsors and grow the sport code.

Though supported by Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC), Binda said the grant that they received was never enough, adding hosting a professional boxing tournament of a lesser magnitude would require not less than P100 000.   

 “We do appreciate the financial support from BNSC, but what we get does not even come close to our annual budget,” said Binda.

Registered in 2015, Binda said the establishment of professional boxing was to create a platform for boxers who were eager to turn professional.

Binda said currently five professional boxing stables Scud Missile Promotions, Bond Boxing, DRAD, Top 10 and the Perfect Punch were registered and under their regulation.

He applauded Botswana Boxing Association (BOBA) for continued support.

“Currently we are using equipment from BOBA. We are heavily dependent on them for resources.  Hosting a professional boxing tournament requires a special location and we use hotels and other special locations. We usually compromise our standards due to financial constraints,” said Binda.

“We must have medical personnel, ambulance, book a hospital bed for an emergency in terms of injuries. All those thingss come at a cost.  The financial injection that we get from BNSC is only enough to cover office administration,” he said. Despite facing constraints, Binda said the association’s mandate was not limited as they were at liberty to host a tournament encompassing all belts, from the lowest to heavy weight.

“We are not limited, we can host a tournament that encompasses all known categories of belts in professional boxing,” he said.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Binda said the country was offered an opportunity to be among the hosts of China Africa road map belts. “The Chinese had wished for their belts to be hosted in Africa with Botswana being the hub of most of the proposed tournaments. Though we were affected by COVID-19, we were equally hampered by lack of financial muscle to host a tournament of such magnitude,” said Binda.

Binda said professional boxing had potential to create employment, adding a lot of young boxers were determined to turn professional.

He said in professional boxing level, the boxer was the employer, as he was surrounded by among others the coach, manager, ring girl, sparring partner, promoter who would benefit from what he/she received from a bout. Even though boxers were not barred from competing both as amateur/open boxing and professional level, Binda, however, indicated that professional level was more rewarding.

However, Binda said once contracted as a professional, some would be bound to follow contractual agreement and as such could not go back and forth fighting at amateur and professional level.

 “In our country, boxers still fight in both amateur and professional tournaments,” said Binda. Nonetheless, Binda said there was a point where a professional boxer wouild not be allowed to fight at open tournaments.

“Our current cream of professional boxing will not be allowed to compete in open boxing bouts. There are now a danger to the amateurs and there are being eyed by established brands that associate with them. Imagine a professional boxer losing against an amateur, it will somehow dent their profile. Once you have elevated yourself, you must understand the challenges and conditions that comes with such a move,” said Binda.

At inception, Binda said professional boxing registered 30 boxers.

He said the number had since declined and only 10 boxers were active.

However, Binda said efforts were being made to increase the numbers and it was promising.

Currently, he said four professional boxers being Kutlwano Ogaketse, Bagwasi brothers (Kagiso and Steven) and Aratwa Kasemang were regularly invited to partake in professional tournaments in other countries. 

Despite the challenges of, among others, hampering the growth of professional boxing to desired levels, Binda was impressed with the performance and devotion of local coaches who were in the professional cadre.

“Our coaches are doing exceptionally well. They are of top notch. Our level of coaching is moving at a desired pace and in the right direction,” he said.   ENDS