Agnes Mtimaukanena hangs up gloves
Former World Boxing Forum (WBF) welterweight champion Agnes Mtimaukanena has announced her retirement from active boxing, ending a career that started in 2010.
Mtimaukanena said the decision follows her election as Southern Region Boxing Committee Vice Chairperson.
“I can’t be fighting and at the same time administering the sport because it will contravene provisions of the constitution. As such I have taken a difficult decision to retire from active boxing. Therefore, I will serve the sport in another capacity,” she said.
Mtimaukanena said she was keen to help groom amateurs at both regional and national level.
“My interest is to see a lot of girls taking up the sport. That does not mean that I will turn a blind eye on boys. I will ensure that both boys and girls are well supported. We need to give them specialised training to develop systematically. Besides that, we also need to provide a good environment for them,” she said.
Mtimaukanena said conducting refresher courses for judges, referees and coaches were also on her menu.
“For the sport to develop, we need judges and coaches that are conversant with modern rules as well as coaching methods. I lost some fights due to poor and incompetent officiation. It is for this reason that I want to lobby for refresher courses,” she said.
According to boxrec.com, Mtimaukanena has 10 wins, three defeats and a draw. Nicknamed Queen of the Park, Mtimaukanena last fought at Club 24/7 at Kameza Roundabout in Blantyre when she defeated Eugene Kayange in 2017.
Mtimaukanena recalls her successful WBF title defence bout against Happiness Nkhoma as her memorable fight whereas her loss to Zambian Lolita Muzeya at International Convention Centre in Harare, Zimbabwe, is regarded as her sour moment.
“Against Happiness I fought hard and followed the game-plan to win. It was one of my toughest fights. I am still at pains that I lost to Muzeya in a World Boxing Council fight. During my fighting career, I discovered that I was a slow starter; so, the referee stopped the contest when I had not warmed up. However, if I had been given time to continue, I believe I could have turned around the tide,” she said.
The mother of two [Kupakwashe and Kudzaishe] won the WBF welterweight belt after defeating Kenyan Susan Andeso in 2012.
Meanwhile, Mulanje Last Boxing Promotions Managing Director Mike Chitenje has asked the boxer to take part in a farewell bout.
“She cannot just leave the stage like that. She is among the people who worked hard to have women boxing in the country. There are exceptions to some rules. I think she can be allowed to officially bid farewell to the sport in the ring,” he said.
