The government has urged professional boxers to exercise caution when signing national and international matches contracts.
Leodegar Tenga, Chairperson of the National Sports Council (NSC), speaking as the guest of honor at a seminar organized by the Tanzania Professional Boxing Regulatory Commission (TPBRC) in collaboration with BMT in Ilala, emphasized the importance of boxing in bringing honor to the nation. He noted that boxing is ranked as the second most popular sport in the country.
"Boxers must carefully analyze the terms of the contracts they sign, whether competing locally or internationally, instead of focusing solely on the monetary aspect. Many prioritize financial gain without paying attention to the contract details, which often leads to exploitation and denial of their fundamental rights," Tenga stated.
He also urged boxers to use their careers to promote themselves, attract sponsorships, and increase their income.
"There is also the issue of health. Boxers need to take care of themselves in their daily lives and avoid engaging in substance abuse, such as marijuana, or using illegal performance-enhancing drugs that are banned in sports," he added.
BMT’s Executive Secretary, Neema Msitha, encouraged boxers to leverage social media to market themselves and generate additional income outside the ring.
"Boxing is now widely followed. Use social media to market yourselves and create opportunities. Winning by knockout will make people notice you, but if you don’t maintain your presence, they may lose interest," Msitha advised.
On the issue of contracts, Msitha urged boxers to take their training seriously and thoroughly understand the agreements they sign.
She noted that her office frequently receives complaints about contracts between boxers and promoters.
"Boxers need to fully understand the contracts they sign to avoid being exploited. Boxing has its share of deceptive practices, where promoters exploit boxers' lack of knowledge about contract clauses to withhold payments," she explained.