The Malawi Professional Boxing Control Board (MPBCB) has admitted that professional boxing is facing challenges in the country due to inadequate resources.

The board’s spokesperson, Frank Chibisa, highlighted a number of issues which he said need serious and immediate attention if the sport is to develop especially at professional level.

The plea comes following the recent poor performances by the country’s boxers when they go outside the country to face their opponents.

Chibisa said: “Just imagine, out of 28 districts in the country, there are only 2 major boxing rings that our boxers use for their bouts and the rings are not matching the international standards, many boxers are using football grounds for training a development which make them struggle in the rings when they meet their opponents.”

He further bemoaned that boxers do not follow proper diet as required because even their managers are ignorant on such issues.

However Chibisa gave an example of Malawian boxers who have done well after finding themselves in other countries with proper resources.

He mentioned Isaac Chilemba who is based in South Africa and has made a name at international level.

He also talked of Anisha Bashil, a Malawian woman boxer who camped in Zimbabwe for about three months and in turn she clinched an African Boxing Union belt and women’s Commonworth belt.

Last weekend, a Malawian boxer, Wilson Shasha Masamba, was knocked out in the sixth round by a Tanzanian boxer in a fight which took place in Tanzania.