Paul Kamanga’s fourth-round TKO win over late-substitute Odieu Rychi Dzabatou wasn’t the main story last Friday. At least, not according to original opponent Philip Musariri, who is seeking compensation after being unceremoniously removed from the main event.
Initially, DRC’s Kamanga and Zimbabwe’s Musariri were to face off for the IBF Continental welterweight title last Friday at Village Chez Temba in Kinshasa. The event was slated for October 30 to commemorate the 47th anniversary of the famed Rumble in the Jungle fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman that also took place in Kinshasa back in 1974.
However, Canada-based DRC promoter Marcel Tshiyoyo, who organized the event, postponed the Kinshasha card to November 20 and then December 4 before finally settling on December 10.
The changes didn’t end there. Days before the show, Musariri was removed from the card.
“It’s not easy to find sponsorship in Congo. I had one sponsor and the budget was small,” said Tshiyoyo. “When the COVID variant came, I spoke to the IBF. They said it’s better to postpone the event.”
Even so, Tshiyoyo opted instead to go ahead with the card but bring in a new, unheralded opponent in a non-title bout yet couldn’t explain why he chose to do so.
Musariri, on the other hand, had an entirely different recollection of what transpired.
“The promoter is a joke when it comes to serious boxing,” Musariri told BoxingAfrica.com. “He changed dates more than three times for reasons I don’t know.
“Four days before departure day he started saying we got no money for the title, so I am giving you a non-title bout; eight rounds for a $500 purse. Yet I prepared for the fight since August.
“Now he is like I’m the one who did not make it. This is a lie. “I’m very agitated right now because I blew a lot of money in the prep for that fight. He’s got to compensate that.”
It gets worse.
According to BoxRec.com, the official recordkeeper of boxing stats, new opponent Dzabatou was making his pro debut, in part because BoxRec has been unable to verify whether or not some of his alleged prior bouts ever took place.
The fight itself was a mismatch. Kamanga (23-2, 13 KOs) pummeled Dzabatou into submission in four one-sided rounds.
“To be honest I’m disappointed. I really wanted to go out there and make a statement but it didn’t happen, I’m happy for the win, though,” said the 28-year-old Kamanga, a former WBC international super lightweight champion.
Tshiyoyo has yet to respond on whether he will compensate Musariri. One thing is for sure – an event that was supposed to celebrate Africa’s finest moment in boxing history became a microcosm of everything that ails the sport on the continent today.
–John Nene
