UBO FINDS TANZANIA-FIGHT PROMOTERS AT FAULT

By Sharma Devaiah

Three weeks after Filipino pugilists Arnel Tinampay and Eduardo Mancito both earned a loss each in a controversial fight in Tanzania, the Universal Boxing Organization has formally given their findings to the manager and coach of Mancito.

In his interview with Fightnews Asia, Mancito’s Match Maker, Mr. Brico Santig expressed his dismay over the results of the fight wherein it was declared as a title fight despite the errors surrounding the promotion at the event on November 28. The Tanzanian promoter Peak Time Promotion had earlier offered a 10-round non-title fight between Filipino Eduardo Mancito and Tanzanian Salemo Jengu to which both parties signed. However, the promoters then allegedly told both camps and the Universal Boxing Organization the night before the fight that the fight was scheduled for Jengu’s UBO title defense. Without securing proper signatures, the UBO supervisor Emmanuel Mlundawa told promoters that Team Mancito initially agreed to fight for the said title to which Team Mancito only agreed upon on the day of the fight itself after the UBO supervisor and the president of the Tanzania Professional Boxing Regulatory Committee, the local boxing commission, went to the dressing room of Mancito to get confirmation that they had agreed to fight 12 rounds for the UBO title. As per the investigation of the UBO, Mancito and the team confirmed that an agreement of an additional 1000 USD had been agreed (3000 USD instead of 2000 USD), and so they accepted 12 rounds for the UBO title. However, such purse money was not given to Team Mancito.

According to the UBO’s findings, if indeed Mancito did not receive the agreed additional fight money, the promoters then had cheated on Team Mancito. UBO also said they haven’t received any sanctioning fight for the said title defense as it was exceptionally agreed between UBO and the promotion that a sanction will only take when Jengo makes another title-defense before the end of 2020. They also mentioned they will urge the local commission of Tanzania to ensure the financial capacity of the promoters before scheduling a fight.

UBO’s letter to the Manager of Mancito also urged them to ask the local boxing commission of the Philippines to help the team in the matter of filing proper suits to which Games and Amusement Board Chairman, Mr. Baham Mitra answered that they will work on this case as soon as possible, to which Team Mancito awaits actions from GAB (as of press time).

UBO similarly stated they are not likely to work with the same promotion again, or in the unlikely event of choosing to do so, demand that the local boxing commission takes responsibility in ensuring that he has the funds required and actually pays what is agreed.

Team Mancito had been relentless in the matter as they would want to know if what transpired between the Tanzania local commission and the promoters had been sabotage for the Filipino fight or if it was just a plan of the promoters to retain the belt.

Promoters and Managers Association President Mr. Dante Almario likewise expressed his disappointment in this matter as he said that UBO Supervisor Emmanuel Mlundawa should have overseen the matter and made sure that the promoter and the boxers had signed the agreement before the fight.

“We are pursuing the matter because first, it is not of virtue for such promotion to do something like that, it is a clear disrespect to the boxers and managers. We need to pursue cases like these so that it will not happen to any boxer and/or manager again” stated Mancito Manager Alan Ortega.