Paroled Cheka lined up for non-title bout.

Francis Cheka.

 anzania boxing promoter Kaike Siraju, is expected to clear doubt surrounding selection of a boxer that merits an opportunity to take on paroled Francis Cheka, in an international non-title super middleweight bout to be staged in Dar es Salaam on May 30.

 

There has been confusion on the selection of Cheka’s opponent for the bout, apart from the boxing body that deserves to sanction the fight, in which Tanzania Professional Boxing Commission (TPBC) and Pugilist Syndicate of Tanzania (PST) claimed to have secured the right to sanction the fight.

 

The two bodies went as far as announcing various boxers who are expected to face Cheka in the bout.

 

TPBC interim chairman Chaurembo Palasa  said last week that Cheka is expected to fight Ugandan boxer, Kassim Ouma. The commission then organised Ouma's trip to Dar es Salaam, just a couple of days later to hold a press conference and announce his fight with Cheka.

 

PST secretary general Anthony Ruta then said in an interview with a local radio station last Monday announcing his body has chosen a boxer from Thailand to take on Cheka in the fight.

 

Ruta said Ouma does not merit the opportunity to take part in the fight as the latter has not been in action for almost a year and his performance is presently below par.The Thailand boxer according to him, has all the qualities that make him eligible for the contest.

 

However, Siraju the same day said he has yet to decide on the body that will sanction the fight and will officially confirm his stance on the matter tomorrow.

 

“I have not reached agreement with any of the domestic governing bodies on the sanctioning of the fight...I have to contact one of the bodies and meet the expenses of the sanctioning”, Siraju said.

 

Siraju disclosed that Cheka and his coach turned down the opportunity to face Ouma, claiming that the latter has been omitted from super middleweight’s world rating following the failure to take part in a competitive fight for almost a year.

 

Cheka and his coach, Siraju added, feared that the Morogoro boxer will risk dropping in the world ratings in the division should he fight against Ouma.

 

Siraju said PST and TPBC had recently recommended the boxers who deserve the chance to fight Cheka and he was still weighing on the recommendations.

 

“Ruta told me that he secured a boxer from Thailand that will face Cheka, whereas Palasa told me he has organised for two boxers from Uganda and Ghana for the opportunity”, Siraju said.

 

Moreover, Palasa dismissed claims by a section of domestic boxing stakeholders that Ouma is much older and does no longer have the guts to offer stiff opposition to Cheka.

 

“They are not aware that China’s Wang Xin Hua (10-10 (2)-1), who recently took on Tanzanian Mohamed Matumla in the World Boxing Federation (WBF) welterweight title eliminator in Dar es Salaam, had last taken part in a competitive fight against Renan Trongco on September 7, 2013, with the Chinese losing”, Palasa said.

 

“Ouma (28 (17)-8 (2)-1) previously fought Rahman Mustafa on December 11 in 2013 and the former won. They claim that Ouma is much older and is way past his prime…(Philippine’s) Manny Pacquiao was born on December 17, 1978, American Floyd Mayweather was born on February 24, 1977 and Ouma was born on December 12, 1978”.