Tanzanian professional boxer Haruna Swanga has been denied his fight payment after refusing to take a bribe to forfeit his scheduled bout in Germany.
Swanga, who traveled to Wurttemberg, Germany, was expected to step into the ring last night against German fighter Amsal Mujovic.
However, the fight collapsed after Swanga rejected an offer from Mujovic’s team to pay him to step aside and let the German boxer win.
Swanga said he arrived in Germany on Wednesday night and continued training in private to avoid attracting attention. The situation escalated during the weigh-in, when Mujovic first saw him.
“After the weigh-in, representatives from Mujovic’s team approached me, offering money to step aside. I refused. They insisted, but I told them I wouldn’t compromise my integrity,” Swanga said.
Following his refusal, Mujovic informed the organizers that he could not fight, claiming he was unwell.
Swanga, also a soldier in the Tanzania People’s Defence Force (JWTZ), said he has not received any meals during the uncertainty.
He is now demanding his contracted payment of $4,000 (approximately TZS 9.82 million), but the organizers have so far refused to release the money.
Event organizer Senad Mujovic confirmed that no payment would be made to Swanga, despite the Tanzanian boxer not breaching the contract. Swanga is scheduled to return to Tanzania on November 9.
“This is a disappointing experience, but I stand by my decision. I will not compromise my principles for money,” Swanga said.