Tanzanian boxer Hassan Mwakinyo has been handed a one-year ban and fined one million Tanzanian shillings after he failed to step into the ring for his scheduled fight against Namibian boxer Julius Indongo on September 29 at the Mlimani City Arena in Dar es Salaam.

The Tanzanian Professional Boxing Regulatory Commission (TPBRC) found Mwakinyo’s reasons for refusing to fight to be unsubstantiated – he alleged that the promoter deceived him and involved his adversaries in the fight.

This marks the second time that Mwakinyo has caused a commotion in his fights, with the previous incident occurring on September 3, 2022, when he refused to continue in the fourth round, despite leading, against the home fighter, Liam Smith, at the Echo Arena in Liverpool.

Following this incident, the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBC) banned Mwakinyo from fighting in the UK, despite his explanation that he had lost his gear at the airport, including his shoes.

Mwakinyo claimed that the home team provided him with ill-fitting shoes, which caused him discomfort and pain, leading to his resignation during the fourth round.

Mandonga Mtu Kazi beaten for the third time in a row

In the final week of August 2023, Mwakinyo’s compatriot and fellow boxer Karim Mandonga experienced another setback in Zanzibar where he lost another bout, as the island bore witness to its first boxing match in nearly six decades.

Popularly known as “Mtu Kazi,” he faced off against local boxer Osman Muller Jr, marking a significant occasion as Zanzibar lifted the boxing ban that had been in place since 1964.

“Kawaida ya mchezo wa ngumi unaweza ukaongea na ulingoni yakatokea mengine. Niwaambie hivi Muller Omar akanipiga mimi kama nimempiga na nikimpiga nimempiga tu,” Mandonga commented on the bout.

The defeat marked Mandonga’s third consecutive loss. Previously, he had been defeated by both Kenya’s Daniel Wanyonyi and Uganda’s Moses Golola in separate matches in July 2023.