AfricaPress-Tanzania: TANZANIA’S professional boxing promoter, Jackson Group has unveiled their commitment to stage many world-class bouts with aim to promote the country’s tourism and tourist attractions.
The commitment was revealed over the weekend by the Jackson Group’s Chief Executive Officer, Kelvin Twissa as his analysis of the recently staged international bouts in which also initiated the sports tourism initiative that involved the world-class pugilists; Kubrat Pulev and his brother, Tervel.
Kubrat Pulev is one of the global class boxers who have fought the heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua at the end of last year and lost in the ninth round by knockout (KO).
Twissa said they have decided to support President John Magufuli’s government which aims to reach not less than 5,000 tourists in this year.
Adding, he said they have decided to use professional boxing because it involves many world-class boxers and has a wider network that promotes traveling.
According to Twissa, their firm has decided to promote boxing by staging many bouts that will give the foreign boxers an opportunity to visit Tanzania like what Kubrat Pulev and his brother did the Rumble In Dar fight held on January 29 at the Next Door Arena.
“Rumble in Dar fight involved flag bearers from Tanzania who faced boxers from Namibia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of Congo, Bulgaria and United States of America. The fight also was broadcast live in more than 150 countries in the world. We must be proud of it because we hosted the event and the name of the country was promoted,” said Twissa.
According to Twissa, professional boxing is one of the most loved sports in the country after football.
“We are proud to be initiating it through Kubrat and Tervel who toured Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti National Park and managed to see the big-five games and got awareness on Maasai traditional art and customs. That inaugurated our sports tourism and the visit of the two boxers has inspired us to have bigger plans. We acknowledge the support from Precision Air, Arusha Coffee Lodge, Zara Tours, Off the Beaten Path Safaris, Elewana, Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) and Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority,” he said.
“In short, the two boxers have gained good experience. They had never seen animals like lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards and others more than watching television. In fact, the visit of Kubrat and Tervel has opened our eyes and we have decided to immediately start activities to promote the country’s tourism beyond its borders. We hope to do a lot of paid fist fights and we will bring in good boxers who we will use as our ambassadors to announce the results, ”said Twissa.
He said the Rumble in Dar programme is sustainable and their plans to stage as many fight as they can aiming to develop the boxers while the country earn income through tourisms.
Pulev said he was very happy to see the big animals, Ngorongoro Crater, Mount Kilimanjaro and various attractions, as well as to learn the traditions and customs of the Maasai tribe.
He said he was very relieved and would be one of the best ambassadors in his country.
