World International Boxing Association (WIBA) president Ryan Wissow has said he will not work with Esther Phiri’s international promoter but is willing to do business with the Zambian female boxer if he has 100 % control of the bill.
Wissow said in a statement that he will never do any business with Kenyan boxing promoter Caleb Kuya.
Kuya, who has promoted everyone of Esther’s last sevens title fights since 2006, also promoted Sundays fiasco in Nairobi that saw Esther beat unrated Viparat Lasuwan for the GBC female lightweight crown via a fourth round knockout.
This after the WIBA refused to sanction Esther’s bout for the vacant lightweight title against the boxer from Thailand the organization had not even rated on their charts.
Wissow said as far as the WIBA were concerned their champion at lightweight division in the female category was Melissa Hernandez of the USA.
“Like I said before, (Esther) Phiri is a good boxer, and I am willing to give her WIBA title shot, but I have no intention of working with promoter Caleb Kuya,” Wissow said.
“Twice in the past he (Kuya) contacted me, wanting me to sanction WIBA title fights on his shows, and both times I said yes.
“Time went by and I never received the sanction fees for those fights, and eventually I found out that the GBU was sanctioning the fights.
“I also found out that the GBU and WIBF were not paid sanction fees owed to them by Mr. Kuya for past title fights.
“Then for this fight. My Kuya again asked me to sanction these fights on his show this past weekend. I told him NO!, and to lose my number and email address.
“So what does he do? he used the WIBA name to promote his show and make money, without my permission or prior knowledge.
“Now he is telling people that the fight was for the GBC title and not the WIBA title, after I called his bluff.”
Meanwhile, Wissow says the battle for the vacant WIBA lightweight title fight would be held in Germany on June 5 between Rola El Halabi of Germany and Spaniard Loli Munoz.
However, Wissow said he was willing to stage a WIBA super bantamweight title fight between holder Hernandez and Esther.
“I would be more than willing to sanction a WIBA World Title fight at 130 pounds (59 Kg) between Esther Phiri and champion Melissa Hernandez, only if One: I can select all three judges and referee,” he said.
“Two: I be flown in from Miami to supervise this fight and Three: that Caleb Kuya is not involved in any way.
“If you can get the government to sponsor this REAL WIBA title fight, then I would be willing to do business in Zambia or Kenya.”
Meanwhile, in the midst of the unraveling development following Sundays fiasco, Esther was by press time being fated by President Rupiah Banda for lunch at State House in honor of her victory against Lasuwan.
These promoters are just putting their mouths where the money is. It’s OK with me as long as our Esther doesn’t end up a beggar like Lottie Mwale.
Our Zed boxing board must seriously consider Caleb Kuya. They suspended him last but quickly reversed. Whatever he told them, heaven knows. He seems to be crooked and Esther, Anthony, Cottan & Zed boxing may suffer BIG time.
get rid of the promoter and find someone who is capeblle fo doing the job.. we dont want ester to end up a begger
UUHH Its quite interesting, but with a ??, why does he want to select all the three judges and worth while the referees? but again is Kuya the right person to be a promoter or is doing a crooked business out of our Zambian Boxers.. YET TO FIND OUT!!!
Kuya seriously needs to be checked, he has found a way of making money by promoting Esther’s fights with seemingly useless opponents
What tha bomboklaat goin on here mon?!! Him Kuya ha fe get a beatin, seen?…..rasklaat!
throw the guy out..
don’t even think twice. If he is costing Esther the opportunity to win a real title then I would get rid of him today. As far as I am concerned, Esther is yet to face a real boxer. She is no champion to me. At least not yet.
Esther must also be professional and say no if things dont seem right. Just because there is money to be made, does not meen she must go in the ring with chickens, rats, dogs, flies etc.
It seems like these pipo are noly using this poor woman, I have not heard Ryan Wissow say anything about protecting the fighter, all he cares about is the money he will make out of her. They are both sad blokes. Ryan Wissow and Kuyu.
Does esita know how to read or write, i feel there is some thing very wrong here, what she needs is a very good manager
Imwe ba Ryan those issues why are you running to the press
sort it out with ester and her crew
My instics tell me that you are probably trying to milk her and make more money off her hence she is cautious and rightfully avoiding you
Don king na Tyson thats what happened
Read Don King’s rise in this sport in a book “Only in America- The Life and Crimes of Don King”, then you will understand what goes on in the world of Boxing, even such well known groupings like WBC are up in sh….
This is the same reason zambia sport is not doing well, cos they are all thinking of how to get rich quick. There are a lot of talented pipo in zambia , they can make a difference .The problem is greedy managers. what a shame.
I smell brimstone.
What makes it all stink is that the bulk if not all money for these fights is actually coming from Zambia.
It’s simple, let Estele meet real boxers like Laili Ali and if she wins, then i will be the first to congratulate her. I mean look at her opponents so far, they seem to be hand picked in order to give her a supposedly unblemished record. With this revelation, which WIBA title did she win? It’s high time her promoters gave her real opponents. They are just there to line their pockets. I can assure you they will avoid this as much as possible. It will be sorry site one day where Estele will not know which is the canvas or her corner.
It is a very embarrasing development. I smell a Big Stinking Rat.
Cottan this Ryan is oferring the world title what do you say? But though his terms are abit crooked as well. So you tell me no one can take this cheap theif to court (Kuya)?
Meanwhile Estele enjoyed her lunch with RB…….
She is only winning coz she fights weak and unknown fellas. Let her take on Ali, then we will rate her.
Kuya is a snake
Africa…!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As if there is no Zambian Boxing Board. Mmm! Zambians always taken for rides by foreigners. Wake up!
SAD TURN OF EVENT!
#20 Dr. ,it will take time for them to meet because they are in different weights….
i want to select all (African) judges and referee for this bout.
i must select which officials work this proposed fight, to make sure the most experienced and qualified officials are involved.
its nothing crooked, its just what i have to do to keep the judging as honest and fair as possible, and also this is what i’ll have to do to get Melissa Hernandez to agree to the fight.
the judges that i would use, all but 1 of them have worked Esther’s fights in the past.
if Hernandez doesnt want to fight in Africa, then Esther can fight for the WIBA Interim World Title against american Rhonda Luna or another top-rated opponant. either way, Esther is worthy of a WIBA title shot. and i am willing to give her that opportunity.
i just spoke to Melissa Hernandez.
she agrees to defend her WIBA Super Featherweight World Title against Esther Phiri in Zambia or Kenya for a purse of $6,500 USD and 2 tix (for fighter and trainer). C’mon Zambian government, lets get together and make this fight a reality. Esther deserves it, and Zambia deserves it as well. lets make it happen.
RYAN
[email protected]
“President Rupiah Banda says the recent victory by Zambia’s celebrated female boxer Esther Phiri is a demonstration of the depth of talent among the youth in the country.President Banda has pledged 50 million Kwacha to Esther Phiri after her victory last Sunday.”
What victory?
What this so called promoters are doing to boxeing is what Ka Kalu is doing to football,he stays in SA and just cames to Zed to make money.
LT should dig deeper and find out how Rupiah Banda was involved in the eventual downfall of Lottie Mwale, for those of uyou who were not there or didn’t know.
Wat doeze Boxing Control Board control? And where is the Ministry of Sport who even send officers to grace such fights? We sure can avoid these embarrassments, if we put our act together. Wonder why thez no Esther newz on SABC, BBC, VOA, SKY NEWZ, wen they report African sports.