Controversy Erupts as Zimbabwean Boxer Mitchell Mu...

Controversy Erupts as Zimbabwean Boxer Mitchell Muyambo Falls to Mulyata Amidst Allegations of Fraud and Misconduct

Gilbert Munetsi - Zim Now Writer

South Africa-based Zimbabwean boxer Mitchell Muyambo suffered a seventh-round technical knockout (TKO) defeat against Zambia’s Catherine Mulyata in a controversial WABA Supreme World Title bout held at the Government Complex in Lusaka last night.

Despite the purported significance of the fight, coverage of the bout has been notably absent from the Zambian national press.

Muyambo endured a punishing night in the ring, absorbing heavy punishment without significant resistance, in what many observers described as a grossly one-sided contest.

Meanwhile, serious allegations surrounding the organization of the fight have begun to surface. A reliable source, speaking on condition of anonymity, has revealed that the clearance permitting Muyambo to participate may have been fraudulently obtained through a contact in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

According to the source, Muyambo traveled an arduous 2,282 kilometers by road, passing through Harare and Kitwe before finally arriving in Lusaka. Typically, world title challengers are provided air travel arrangements, underscoring further questions about the professionalism behind the organization of the bout.

During a brief stint in Zambia’s Copperbelt region where she reportedly awaited doctored papers, Muyambo trained at the Power Dynamos Amateur Gym in preparation for the fight. It was during this period, the source claims, that a Congolese national produced a forged clearance, falsely claiming Muyambo was registered with the DRC’s boxing authority.

Attempts to reach the Fédération Congolaise de Boxe (FCB) which regulates both amateur and professional boxing in DRC for verification were unsuccessful by the time of publication.

“They knew she would not be sanctioned by Zimbabwe or South Africa to contest for a world title, especially considering her professional record,” the source said. “So the WABA leadership decided to push ahead with the fight by securing a falsified clearance through a Congolese intermediary.”

In an even more startling twist, Zimbabwean official Sisasenkosi Maphosa, who officiated the bout, is alleged to have traveled to Zambia without formal clearance from the Zimbabwe National Boxing and Wrestling Control Board (ZNBWCB).

“We did not clear her,” confirmed ZNBWCB Programmes Manager Moreways Changa. “She was instructed to submit her appointment letter from WABA, but failed to do so and proceeded to travel independently, breaching protocol.”

Efforts to obtain comments from Zambian authorities regarding mandatory health and safety protocols — including MRI scans and anti-doping procedures — proved futile.

This incident further highlights mounting concerns within the global boxing community regarding the legitimacy of so-called “briefcase” sanctioning bodies. Many of these organizations have faced criticism for bypassing international standards, failing to ensure title defenses, and compromising the integrity of the sport. Alarmingly, there are numerous cases where fighters have held onto world titles for years without mandated defenses.

As questions over governance, transparency, and athlete safety continue to plague boxing’s lower-tier sanctioning bodies, the saga surrounding Muyambo’s ill-fated title bid may be yet another cautionary tale for the sport’s embattled reputation.