Promoter aims to bring big time boxing back

Dar es Salaam. Prominent professional boxing promoter Jay Msangi of the Hall Of Fame Boxing and Promotions aims high and this time, he expects to bring more international boxing fights to the country.

Msangi was recently awarded by the Tanzania Sports Writers Association (Taswa) a prize as a recognition for his contribution in boxing development in the country.

Msangi was voted as the best boxing promoter by Taswa. He managed to bring in the country American danger- man Phil “The Drill” Williams for the vacant WBF World Super Middleweight crown against Francis Cheka.

In the fight held at the Diamond Jubilee Hall on August 30, 2013, Cheka won the World Boxing Federation Super middleweight title on points.

The victory made the Tanzanian boxer to be ranked among the 20 best boxers in the weight category recognized by WBF in the world.

In the event which was dubbed “Title Night in Tanzania”, Thomas Mashali and Mada Maugo also fought

in the vacant WBF All Africa title bout in the same weight class. Mathali won the fight on points.

Msangi, who aimed high in taking Cheka to the next level after the fight, said he did not reach his target after Cheka was taken to feature in a nontitle bout against Fedor Chudinov in Russia, where was knocked out in the third round of the December 21 fight.

The move shattered Msangi’s dreams to take Cheka in another international bouts and many other

offer to Cheka as he was subsequently eliminated soon after WBF stripping of his title and declared it vacant.

However, Msangi did not give up. He staged another fight for Cheka and this time at PTA Hall. The Tanzanian boxer won on points against Thailand boxer, Kiatchai Singwancha. Cheka registered 70-63, 70-63 and 70-63 respectively.

“The fight was to make Cheka return on the track after being stripped of his WBF title, I managed

to bring him back in the game although he missed many offer to fight abroad, it is my role though I

face a myriad of challenges which to a great extent have contributed to retard boxing development in the

country,” said Msangi.

Msangi said after Cheka’s fight, he decided to promote other professional boxers like Mohamed Matumla,

who won elimination title against Chinese Xinghua Wang, who fought in Tanzania for the first time in history.

Apart from that, Msangi managed to bring another international title in the country through upcoming professional boxer, Ibrahim Class, who won the World Professional Boxing Federation (WPBF) African welterweight title against Zambia’s Mwansa Kabinga in 2014.

Msangi prepared the Tanzanian boxer to win by Technical Knockout (TKO) in the ninth round in the fight

held at Arthur Davies Stadium, Kitwe, Zambia.

“I thank Taswa for encouraging me, Taswa made me to shake hand  with President Jakaya Kikwete after

recognizing my role in the game, Tanzania has many professional boxers, I managed to take them on board, today, many promoters know Tanzania,” he said.

He said professional boxing legends like, Francois Botha alias “The White Buffalo” visited the country for

the first time through his efforts to promote the game across the borders.

Bright future

Msangi said that he is intending to stage another big fight at the end of the year. He said he has already started preparations to enable boxers like, Ibrahim Class, Cosmas Cheka and Francis Cheka to secure opponents from America.

“My plan is to see boxers in the country attain international standards, I know that there are barriers

to reach the target, but I have been inspired by the recognition accorded to me by Taswa. I believe, everything is possible if we are determined and united for the game, we need to cooperate and not otherwise,” he said.

According to him, professional boxing in second to soccer for having more fans in Tanzania.

“For instance, boxing fans paid  Sh150,000 to watch Cheka-Phil bout at the Diamond Jubilee Hall, it is the highest entrance fees compared to what is charged in soccer matches and other sports in the country,” he said.

Msangi urged private firms to support the game as well as professional boxers in order to boost their income.

“We need the support from stakeholders in order to take the game to the next level, ” he added.