Tobias calls for probe into boxing

NAMIBIA’s best-known boxing promoter and trainer, Nestor ‘Sunshine’ Tobias, says he is fed up with the ‘demoralising’ state of the sport and wants an investigation into the dealings of the Boxing Control Board.

Tobias said the time had come to put an end to ‘chancers’, as he echoed recent allegations of mismanagement levelled against the head of boxing, Kelly Nghixulifwa. A number of sources have accused Nghixulifwa of double standards with regard to his running of the control board and have called for his head following allegations that he had ‘illegally’ sanctioned the recent fight of former two-time middleweight world champion Harry Simon. Nghixulifwa stands accused of allowing the fight to take place despite the purse requirements not being met. He is also said to have been responsible for the printing of promotional material for the fight, while delegating the gate takings duties to his spouse. A number of boxing pundits have questioned the quality of the boxers who took part in Simon’s event and the overall organisation of the ‘Return’ contest. ‘If these allegations are true then it’s very disappointing,’ said Tobias.’The relevant people in charge must take it up. This issue must be followed up.’Tobias said it was disheartening to see boxing’s imaged being tarnished. He said he would not stand by idly while ‘selfish’ people toyed with the future of the sport. ‘It is very demoralising,’ Tobias said of the revelations that have rocked the boxing fraternity. Tobias said he is committed to making boxing the number one sport in the country. ‘We have worked hard to bring boxing this far and now people just want to come and destroy our work.’WBO fourth vice president Andrew Smale has also spoken out against the shoddy affairs of the Boxing Control Board. Smale reportedly said the current state of the control board’s affairs would ruin the country’s otherwise glowing international standing. COMMONWEALTHMeanwhile, Tobias said WBO Africa welterweight champion Tyson Uushona and flyweight boxer Abmerk Shidjuu are set to vie for Commonwealth titles in their weight classes next year. Uushona is scheduled to fight holder Denton Vassel in Bolton on February 26 while Shidjuu will challenge Chris Edwards on March 26 in Stoke. According to Tobias, both fights are promoted by renowned British boxer Ricky ‘The Hitman’ Hatton. ‘They just have to work hard,’ said Tobias of the two boxers. ‘The sky is the limit for these guys.’