US firm’s boxing impasse drags on
LION heart Boxing Productions, a United States-based promotion and management company, has expressed concern over the seemingly deliberate delays by boxing authorities in Zimbabwe to resolve an impasse over a boxing contest which involved their fighter.
They have described their case as “the biggest boxing scandal in Zimbabwe boxing” and have threatened legal action to find recourse.
Soon after the match between Namibian Harry Simon Junior (who is contracted to Lion Heart) and Aliyah Phiri of Otto Boxing in Harare which was adjudged in favour of the latter, Lion Heart through its chief finance officer, Edward Mendy, immediately filed an appeal against the verdict.
Their argument, among a host of others, was that standard requirements as expected prior to and post professional boxing events the world over were not fulfilled, a development the local boxing regulator seemed to acknowledge in their response to the appeal.
Investigations show the boxer-promoter agreement lacks the signature of a board official, no purse money was submitted with the board and Simon Junior is yet to receive his dues from the fight.
In a letter by Mendy dated July 15, 2023, a day after the fight, the American argued that the agreed-upon opponent was not the one who ended up fighting his boxer. According to a contractual agreement, Simon Jnr had been billed to face Tranos Zihove (W3-L3) for a tune-up fight.
“I approved that opponent with both the fighter and his team. The first opponent was then changed to Adonia Abraham and, subsequently, Collen Zidumbu both of whom I reluctantly agreed to.
“At the very last minute, yet another switch was made to Isah Aliyah Phiri. Knowing that I would not agree to that fight, the boxer was approached directly about the fight and insisted on fighting. I consented to the fight provided that it would be for eight rounds and they eventually fought over six.”
Mendy further argued the boxers were in different weight categories with Phiri, weighing 63kg at lightweight and Simon Jnr at welterweight after scaling 66kg. In such a development, regulations demand that the contest be qualified as a catch-weight or an exhibition.
Correspondences between Mendy and the Zimbabwe National Boxing and Wrestling Control Board show the two parties seemed to be reading from the same page as the ZNBWCB, acknowledging Mendy’s protest, earlier promised to get to the bottom of the matter.
“We therefore would like to advise you that we are in the process of gathering all the necessary reports and evidence from the officials before we convene and deliberate on your appeal,” the board’s acting CEO, Priscilla Kadungure, wrote.
The board also requested a full report from the match promoters, Delta Force, on the fight and how the officiating was handled.
Thereafter, Mendy was given two options, namely to submit an appeal fee of US$300 or pursue the arbitration route.
He opted for the latter. Subsequently, it was resolved on October 11, 2023, that a rematch be staged at a neutral venue with Mendy picking up the costs for the purses.
Said Kadungure in yet another letter to Mendy:
“The board has made this recommendation on the basis that there are technicalities as highlighted in the appeal that were put into consideration to reach this decision.
“However, should you agree to a rematch the date and venue for the rematch has to be agreeable to the other parties,” the board instructed.
While Mendy had proposed December 8, 2023, for the rematch he had pencilled in for the United Arab Emirates with a US$2 000 purse carrot for Phiri, the latter’s handlers had other ideas.
On the same date, Phiri fought for the African Boxing Union title at 7 Arts which he won.